Everytime Chinese New Year approaches, Zhong Shen Trading will be busy taking orders for lion and dragon head costumes. Operating from its workshop in Taman Melor, Ipoh, the company fulfill orders from customers in Ipoh and outside the state.
Owner Teh Win Liang said making the head costumes involve intricate processes, that normally involve four steps.
He said a base must be created with bamboo sticks. A good base is vital for a good head, as it determines how durable it will be. Secondly, paper is stuck securely onto the base. Third, the head must be painted with different colours. Lastly, beads and other sorts of ornaments will be added for decoration, he said.
Teh added a completed dragon head costume is priced around RM5,000 and RM6,000, while a lion head set can fetch between RM2,5000 and RM3,500.