Zhu Jingyuan asked the palace steward to find a tailor, a cobbler, and a shoemaker, and then he returned to his study and started drawing.
Simple design drawings, accompanied by text descriptions of what you need.
The specific production drawings must be prepared by the craftsmen themselves.
Zhu Jingyuan's status was extraordinary, and the palace's housekeeper was also very efficient, and he was quickly found.
Xiyang Cape Huangzhuang, the best tailors, cobblers, and shoemakers in the city, found three of each type.
Among the nine craftsmen, there are two Ming people, three mixed descendants of Ming people and Boers, and four Boers.
The Boers originally meant farmers, but they did not refer to Eastern farmers who farmed their own fields, but to Western farmers who drove Mexican slaves to work.
They are descendants of Thai-Western immigrants, mainly Dutch.
Like the French-speaking and English-speaking areas of Yinzhou, the source of immigrants is actually the entire western continent, but they use the language of the colony they arrive in.
In this world where history has accelerated significantly, the development of the Dutch colonies in South Africa is also better than in history.
When the Ming Dynasty forced the Boers to become independent from the Netherlands, they already had a population of 100,000 Thais.
When the Ming Dynasty officially conquered the Boer country, the number of Boers had grown to 300,000.
In original history, after the Napoleonic Wars, the British gave the Dutch six million pounds in compensation and took possession of the Cape Colony.
In the 1930s, the British declared the Cape Colony to be owned by the British Crown, prohibiting the Boers from continuing to develop their own farms.
By 1834, the British announced the abolition of slavery locally, and the conflict between the Boers who used Mexican slaves to farm and the British completely intensified.
Later, the Boers moved away from the British colony and opened up wasteland near Pretoria, where they later established the Transvaal Republic.
Then came the two Boer Wars. The British once again conquered the Boer country and took control of the entire South Africa.
The Ming Dynasty of this world has now conquered the entire South Mozhou, and has also turned Cape Town, the Cape of the West, into an imperial village.
However, the Ming Dynasty gave the Boers national status of the vassal state, allowed them to continue to open up wasteland and farm, and allowed them to continue to use Mexican slaves.
The lives of the Boers did not change much, so they basically stayed in the Ming Dynasty's colonies.
But something even weirder happened.
Some Thais began to pretend to be Boer immigrants and came to South Mexico...
Because the Boers here have the status of nationals of the Ming Dynasty vassal state.
The Boers are still Taissi in blood.
At that time, officials in the Ming Dynasty could not distinguish the images of Taixi people from different ethnic groups, and they could easily get through them.
Here, Thai people can obtain the status of nationals of the Ming Dynasty vassal state.
The only place in the world.
Later, Ming officials discovered this problem and reported it to the Ming capital court.
After discussion among the senior gentlemen of the imperial court, foreign "Boers" were officially prohibited from entering Nanmozhou.
At the same time, the right of residence of the Boers in other Ming vassal states was abolished.
But when all the regulations were finalized and fully implemented throughout South Mexico, the number of "Boers" had soared to half a million.
Then the Ming Dynasty began to immigrate to Nanmozhou on a large scale, offsetting the demographic advantages of other ethnic groups.
Now the number of Ming people exceeds one million, and the number of Boers continues to grow to more than 600,000.
The mixed descendants of the Ming and Boers also number over one million.
In addition, there are more than two million Mo people in the South Mozhou area.
The total population of the entire Nanmozhou region is more than five million, making it the most complex ethnic group among all areas controlled by the Ming Dynasty.
Among the local tailors, shoemakers, and cobblers in Haijiao Huangzhuang, there are of course many Ming people, and there are also many mixed descendants.
But what Zhu Jingyuan was looking for was someone who could make Thai and Western clothing, so the largest number of craftsmen recruited by the housekeeper were Boers.
These four Boers are all in their 50s and 60s, because they are the most well-known experienced old craftsmen, and also because the young Boers are not willing to learn to make Thai and Western clothing.
The other three mixed-race children are younger, and the mixed-race children don't mind learning Taixi's craftsmanship.
The last two people from Ming Dynasty, one of whom was a young local craftsman, learned Thai and Western clothing design out of curiosity and were not specialized in making Thai and Western clothing.
Another direct employee of the royal consortium is a master craftsman from the Western Cape Branch of the Royal Garment Company, who specializes in Thai and Western clothing.
The nine craftsmen were very excited to see Zhu Jingyuan, and the Boers were all at a loss.
This is the prince of the Ming Dynasty, with the same status as the king of the great country of Taixi.
The two Ming people were not much better, although one of them was still an employee of the royal consortium.
They may not have the opportunity to meet Prince Ming once in their lifetime.
After the butler's introduction, the nine people bowed their hands to Zhu Jingyuan very nervously and excitedly.
"I have met His Highness the Prince."
Zhu Jingyuan sat behind his bookcase, listening to the introduction by the butler next to him, and asked with obvious surprise:
"Our royal consortium also specializes in making Thai and Western garments? If I had known this, I would have come to you directly..."
Chu Yuqiang, a craftsman from the Royal Garment Company, is a tall and slender middle-aged man. Hearing the question, he quickly bowed and handed over again:
"Reporting to Your Highness, the consortium does have related industries, and there are trading companies in places with a large number of Taixi people. Your Highness can give you direct orders if you have any needs."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded slowly in his heart and still said with emotion, this consortium really does everything...
If you want existing Thai and Western clothing, those tight shorts and silk stockings, I guess they can get them in stock.
But what I need is not ready-made clothes.
Zhu Jingyuan shook his head slightly, pushed a few simple drawings he drew into the middle of the bookcase, and directly stated his requirements:
"Everyone, come closer and take a look at the designs I have conceived for these clothes. Let me make them in the next few days and see how they turn out.
"If I think it's possible, I'm going to open a business of my own and go to Thailand to sell this new type of Thai clothing."
The craftsmen approached the book carefully and formed a semicircle to look at the pictures on the table.
Zhu Jingyuan took the drawings and explained them one by one, reminding them of the designs and key points that were not yet available in this era.
Tuxedo, shirt, vest, trousers, women’s short suit, knee-length pleated skirt…
Zhu Jingyuan also learned how to draw, and these clothes originally had similar features, so these craftsmen could all understand Zhu Jingyuan's design.
Then they all felt that these designs were very unique and far different from the existing Thai and Western clothing styles.
Although Tessie's Rococo style has become "simple", clothes and skirts have been allowed to leave white space, and light colors and curves have begun to be used more.
But they will pile up a lot of lace, use a lot of tulle decoration, and wear very exaggerated headdresses.
So if modern people look at it, Rococo is still gorgeous and complicated.
These designs by Zhu Jingyuan look simple even in modern times.
In front of the designers of this era, it is really too simple.
All should be in solid colors, without any patterns or embroidery, without any pleats or lace, and without any jewelry decoration.
Completely closed cuffs and collars, straight jackets and trousers, ironed to create lines...
After Chu Yuqiang saw a few things, he subconsciously asked Zhu Jingyuan:
"May I ask, Your Highness, are these clothes designed for servants or workers? But work clothes do not require such good craftsmanship and materials..."
Only workers' clothes can be so simple. The military uniforms of soldiers from all major countries are many times more complicated than those designed by Zhu Jingyuan.
Other craftsmen also had similar suspicions. When they heard Chu Yuqiang's question, they subconsciously waited for Zhu Jingyuan's answer.
Zhu Jingyuan had long expected their reaction:
"Of course not for servants or workers, I prepare these clothes for the new elite."
The new elite includes wealthy people without aristocratic status, senior managers with high levels of education, and various literary and artistic personnel.
Chu Yuqiang and the craftsmen looked at each other in shock after hearing this.
Are these clothes sold to those elites? Are you kidding, Your Highness the Food King?
They are now pursuing aristocratic style. The more gorgeous the decoration, the better, and the more complicated it is, the better.
As a member of the royal consortium, Chu Yuqiang couldn't help but remind Zhu Jingyuan, the little boss:
"Your Highness, with all due respect, this kind of clothes should be difficult to sell to the Thai and Western elites. They pursue a more gorgeous and complicated style than the nobles."
Zhu Jingyuan smiled and asked:
"What if I wear these clothes to take photos and show them, or even wear them to attend top banquets in various countries in Europe and America?
"Leave a large number of photos, publish them in various newspapers and pictorials, and spread them throughout Europe and the West?"
Chu Yuqiang and the craftsmen were silent.
Zhu Jingyuan's popular style in his previous life was often driven by entertainers.
This era in this life is basically driven by the nobility.
Zhu Jingyuan, the world's top nobleman, is personally promoting it, so as long as these things are not objectionable, they may really become popular.
Although these clothes designed by Zhu Jingyuan are not gorgeous enough, they look quite comfortable and are very convenient to wear.
After a few seconds of silence, Chu Yuqiang nodded gently and said:
"If His Highness personally promotes it, it may indeed succeed. There are many young people who pursue uniqueness.
“Your Highness’s designs, which are completely different from traditional Thai and Western clothing, can be used as a symbol to distinguish them from the older generation.
“In addition, various simplified designs are actually considered to be the Ming style, a style sought after by some Thai and Western literati.
"Your Highness designs these clothes. You can try to promote them in the name of Ming-style suits. The effect may be better."
After Zhu Jingyuan heard this, he looked at Chu Yuqiang with interest. This craftsman seemed to have some ideas in advertising.
Can you recruit someone to become your own clothing store manager or even shopkeeper?
Zhu Jingyuan had this idea in his mind and decided to continue observing and then continue to introduce his other designs.
Tie, tie, top hat, beret, and high heels...
The previous designs and styles are all regarded as super simple clothing designs similar to the previous ones.
It was the last high-heeled shoes that surprised several craftsmen.
However, their unexpected direction was completely opposite to what Zhu Jingyuan originally thought.
Chu Yuqiang carefully observed the three views painted by Zhu Jingyuan, and after simulating it in his mind, he praised with emotion:
"If high heels like your highness really become popular, they might be able to save Tessie's feet..."
Zhu Jingyuan's eyebrows twitched:
"Rescue the Taixi people's feet? Chu Gong is also a master of Yin and Yang?"
Although Chu Yuqiang didn't understand what Master Yin Yang meant, he understood Zhu Jingyuan's expression and expectations and understood what he really meant:
"The curve of the sole drawn by His Highness is more in line with the shape of the sole of the human foot and can make the bones of the human foot more natural."
Zhu Jingyuan was sure that Chu Yuqiang was no longer the Yin Yang Master.
And he is indeed a craftsman from Huangzhuang. He knows a lot and can tell whether it is suitable for a person's foot shape.
At the same time, Zhu Jingyuan also realized a very important issue.
I subconsciously believe that high heels will damage the feet, which is of course correct.
But the damage is also severe.
The soles of modern high-heeled shoes that I drew by myself have been screened by two hundred years of historical experience, and have been deeply optimized especially in the information age.
Although their structural shape makes it impossible to avoid damage, they have reduced the damage as much as possible.
Compared with high heels of the same height two hundred years ago, the degree of damage is obviously reduced.
The new century high-heeled shoes soles that I randomly drew can indeed be regarded as saving people who wear high-heeled shoes in this era.
Zhu Jingyuan asked helplessly:
"What about the height of seven centimeters? This height itself will make people uncomfortable, right?"
Chu Yuqiang immediately explained:
"Tessie originally had such high shoes, but because it is difficult for ordinary people to adapt, very few people wear them.
“Louis XV’s royal mistress, Madame Pompadour, had such high heels.
"His Highness's design may make this height popular..."
Zhu Jingyuan was completely helpless, and his expression became very serious.
So should I put this blueprint away and destroy it? Or add another two or three centimeters?
In later generations, there will be people who are more than ten centimeters tall.
In fact, there are also four-inch high heels at this time.
High heels were originally abandoned along with tight shorts during the French Revolution as a characteristic of the old aristocracy.
But this thing is really poisonous, and it gradually became popular again.
In Zhu Jingyuan's era, high heels have not been affected and are still very popular.
Giving them a better design myself will definitely make this thing more popular.
When Zhu Jingyuan was hesitating, Chu Yuqiang asked a question after thinking about it:
"May I ask, Your Highness, if you can allow the Royal Garment House to adopt a similar design?"
Chu Yuqiang had obviously anticipated that these designs might become popular.
Several other craftsmen also had similar reactions, but the status gap was relatively large and they did not dare to speak directly.
This question from Chu Yuqiang, coupled with the looks in the eyes of the craftsmen, made Zhu Jingyuan give up the idea of scrapping the design.
Now that this design has been brought out, these craftsmen have already seen it, and they can restore it almost exactly when they go back.
It is impossible for him to kill someone and silence him for such a trivial matter.
And being popular also has its benefits. Although the harm is smaller, the money you make will increase.
That’s all I can think of.
Zhu Jingyuan sighed softly:
"Yes, but it will have to be a little later. You have to cooperate with my actions..."
Chu Yuqiang immediately understood what Zhu Jingyuan meant, and immediately solemnly agreed:
"Your Highness, don't worry. We will fully cooperate. If Your Highness needs more samples for display, the firm can help produce them in batches."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded lightly without comment:
"I see……"
