Stitching together life moments

Overseas Chinese from Singapore and Japan also take Shi's courses.

Students must finish a wedding dress in 20 days. All have succeeded so far. The trainers help them determine the complexity and perform strict checks of every step to ensure it's completed well and on time. They operate according to a day-by-day timeline.

"It's pretty intensive," Wang says.

"Students appear on the first day with pretty makeup. Over time, they appear unkempt."

On the last day, a photographer shoots the students with their final works, including their handmade dresses.

"That's when they're pretty again," Wang says.

Shi spends half her time teaching and the other half designing, Wang says.

"Her hands are never empty," she says.