The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Chinese Qipao Society was set up on Saturday in South San Francisco with the aim of promoting the traditional Chinese women's costume as well as Chinese culture in the US. Lan Zhang (third from right), president of the non-profit, said Indian women were often seen in their traditional saris, but few Chinese women wore the qipao in daily life. "We set up the organization in the hopes of calling on more women to cherish our traditional costume and pass down our culture to next generations," said Zhang. "I hope to see a day when all women wear their qipao as everyday clothes, and not just for ceremonies." Sunny Shen, vice-president of Sino-US Culture and Art Association, regarded wearing qipao as an act of patriotism. "I wear a qipao to every event. I find Americans show great interest in the dress and hence in Chinese culture," she said. The often tight-fitting cheongsam, or qipao, was made fashionable by socialites in 1920s Shanghai. The Chinese Qipao Society has more than 100 chapters worldwide, with more than 3 million members, according to Zhang. The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter has some 300 members, mostly women in technology, finance, real estate and other professions. [Photo by LIA ZHU/CHINA DAILY]