The making of a lion/dragon head costume

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.

An employee of Zhong Shen Trading putting the finishing touches to a dragon head costume. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)
An employee of Zhong Shen Trading putting the finishing touches to a dragon head costume. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)

Dragon head costumes ready to be used. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)
Dragon head costumes ready to be used. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)

Owner Teh Win Liang said making the head costumes involve intricate processes, that normally involve four steps.

Employee Tham Wai Hau, 23, testing the quality of a lion head costume. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)
Employee Tham Wai Hau, 23, testing the quality of a lion head costume. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)

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.

An employee working on a lion head set.(Photo by Abdullah Yusof)
An employee working on a lion head set.(Photo by Abdullah Yusof)

An employee working on the eye ofalion head costume. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)
An employee working on the eye ofalion head costume. (Photo by Abdullah Yusof)

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.

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