An elite force of tailors from Jihua 3502 Professional Garment Co. traveled across the country for a project in line with the Sept. 3 military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).
The special project involved finding the hundreds of living descendants of the veterans of the war and taking their measurements. The descendants would be part of a special unit that would march on the day of the parade.
The descendants, who were scattered across the country, composed one of 40 ground units that made up the parade on Tiananmen Square on Thursday. However, they were not told of their special role until much later, after the tailors had already gotten their measurements.
One of the tailors, Xu Li recalls how two months ago, she was ordered to visit eight cities in four days to get the measurements of nine veterans' descendants.
To make the endeavor even more challenging, tailors like Xu had to keep their mission a secret. They had to persuade the descendants to let them take their measurements without any other purpose.
"They thought I was a fraud who planned to gain benefits," said Xu. "Although I finally convinced them of my harmlessness, they still had serious doubts about my purpose. Some of them did not let me in their houses."
Xu said that she was able to get some of the measurements by meeting the descendants at train stations or other outdoor venues.
Besides the consent of the descendants, Xu had to face the physical challenge of getting their measurements. Some of them were over 70 years old and could not stand up straight.
"To ensure the accuracy of the measurements, I needed to take about 10 sizes from head to feet for each of the descendants," said Xu.
Almost 100 tailors were tasked with collecting measurements of veterans' descendants in 17 cities all over the country.
According to Zhang Fenglin, deputy general manager of the company, each of the descendants was shown a selection of clothes to choose from. The company provided more than 90 percent of the clothing for the military parade.
"Seeing them wearing the clothes we made, we felt great glory," said Zhang.