Gallery: Shanghai MIDI Festival fashion

Music fans came out in droves for Shanghai's first MIDI Festival last weekend, showing that they love their fashion as much as their music

By Gillian Bolsover 9 May, 2011

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While music was the major attraction at the three-day event, for many festival-goers it was also an opportunity to put on their best clothes and meet other like-minded people under the scorching Pudong sun. The band The Fever Machine chose to ignore fashion trends, and shirts all together actually, in order to cool off.

Wang Junzhe (王俊喆), a 22-year-old Shanghai student from Qinghai province, cheers while watching The Fever Machine. With golden hoops stuck through his gauged earrings, a long, silky shirt and unique hairstyle, Junzhe’s fashion truly stood out. “I love rock and roll,” he said. “I hope that the Shanghai MIDI Festival continues to get better and better, and that Chinese rock music continues to get better and better.”

In a bright green dress, yellow tights and red high-heeled shoes, Shanghai-based sales director Liu Fangyu (刘芳宇), 31, perused the items on offer at the festival’s flea market. This was Liu’s ninth MIDI. “I never missed it when I lived in Beijing,” she said. “I'm so excited the festival has come to Shanghai.”

Xiong Yi (熊毅), 30, from Shenzhen, models one of the masks that he came to the festival to sell. The masks, which feature a cigarette-friendly zipper, proved a popular purchase at the festival flea market.

In a large, wide-brimmed hat and blue-and-white striped T-shirt, Lu Xiaoxun (陆晓逊), 32, was instantly visible among the crowd watching 十四行诗 on Friday. Lu, a coffee shop boss, said he came to the festival because listening to music in this atmosphere helps him relax.

Shanghai midi festival 2011 -- yellow hat

In a black dress, yellow shawl and vintage jewelry, college student Corey Han (韩晓圆), 22, cheers while enjoying the music at the Tang Stage. Han said she loves rock music and her favorite band at the festival was the Shanghainese group 顶楼马戏团.

Sporting tight white jeans covered in horizontal tears, Zong Yijia (宗懿嘉), 20, relaxed with her friend, Meng Weilin (孟维琳), on the green grass of Century Park. Zong said she loved rock and roll music and was disappointed that headliners Mr. Big cancelled.

The back of Zong’s shoes were covered in spikes; she carries her iPhone in a matching spiky case.

Shanghai midi festival -- smoking in white

Narissa Wang (王小样), 24, wore a tight psychedelic print shirt and leggings to the festival. Wang, who is originally from Jilin Province, said she came to the festival to have fun with her friends and enjoy the music.

Li Fuyou (李付有), 20, from Heilongjiang Province, took a novel approach to attracting customers, dressing in a flower print apron and cowboy hat, with “Two sticks for RMB 10” written on each arm and on a cardboard sign around his neck. As the nights drew to a close, hungry customers flocked to Li’s stall, attracted by both the smell of cooking meat, and his unusual costume.

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The MIDI Festival, China’s largest and longest running rock music event, finally came to Shanghai this past weekend.

Although Friday’s headliner Mr. Big cancelled their show, crowds of music fans gathered in Century Park to rock out at the Tang Stage, dance at the Antidote stage, browse the goods on sale at the market and simply picnic with friends in the park.

But it was more than just music on show -- the city’s youth showed that Shanghai-style is way than brand names and shanzhai bags.

For more on the Shanghai MIDI Festival, read on at "MIDI Festival fever hits Shanghai".

After working as a full-time photographer and multimedia producer for small-town American newspapers for several years, Gillian followed her camera across the globe in pursuit of new experiences and adventures.

Gallery: Shanghai MIDI Festival fashion

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