Her initial goal was to make beautiful and fashionable wedding dresses. After communicating with the brides, however, she was more interested in sewing the couple's love and memories into the dress. She was convinced that it should be unique and tell their stories.

Integration is the crucial part. Once, a couple came to Beijing for a custom dress. The groom asked privately if Meizi could put their love token into the design. His fiancee had once given him the item with a picture of a deer in the forest, and their relationship went smoothly ever since. "Normally it is the bride to make the requests. It was impressive that a man was so thoughtful," says Meizi. She turned the whole dress into a "tulle forest," with the pattern of a deer playing in the lush tree branches.

Before the work is finished, Meizi usually leaves the final parts for the bride's parents or friends to sew. Once a bride's mother paid full price upon hearing about this special arrangement. She wanted to participate in the making of the most important garment for her daughter. The mother was calm and resolute during the wedding preparation, although she got emotional the moment she finished sewing her daughter's name on the veil.

CGTN Photo

CGTN Photo

Meizi hopes that the wedding dresses she design could bear the love from families and friends of the bride for the rest of her life. "A garment can be affectionate," she believes.

Having been in the business for years, Meizi has received countless words of gratitude from her customers. Some of the brides cried while being fit for their dream dresses. Yet what impressed her the most was a groom hugging her while crying, completely overwhelmed by the beautiful dress he had just picked up.

Meizi regards the wedding dresses as her children. "From 24 to 34 years old, I devoted the best of my life to it." Meizi fulfilled the brides' dreams, and her own, too. "I think that is called craftsmanship," she says.

CGTN Photo