Rats add festive air to shirts

clothing bearing chinese zodiac animal already on sale

GEORGE TOWN: With the Year of the Rat just around the corner, families are picking up rat-themed T-shirts to mark the upcoming Lunar New Year.

Among them were executive project planner Zaren Chok, 35, and her family, who were spotted picking up the rat-themed Chinese New Year clothing at a shopping mall in Bayan Lepas.

Chok said her family usually wear red shirts with matching zodiac signs during their reunion dinner gathering.

“We try to celebrate Chinese New Year with zodiac-themed shirts every year, even if most of us are not born under that zodiac sign.

“It marks the beginning of our Lunar New Year under the sign, and is a symbol of togetherness in our family.

“All of us are getting a red T-shirt with the rat zodiac to mark the upcoming Year of the Rat,” she said when met at the mall yesterday.

Chok’s husband, machinist Paul Choi, 36, his father Choi Kok Chong, 65, and daughter Choi Wenyee, six, were also seen browsing through the rat-themed T-shirts.

The mall’s men’s department promoter Tan Ling Ling, 42, said although zodiac-themed clothing may be popular among shoppers during the Chinese New Year period, it does not usually stock up on a lot of them.

“This is because although shoppers buy them, many do not wear them much after that specific zodiac year.

“So, we usually stock up more on clothing with generic designs as shoppers can still wear them even after Chinese New Year.

“Those who would usually buy zodiac-themed shirts are men as T-shirts are comfy and they give off a Chinese New Year vibe.

“On the other hand, only a handful of women would buy them as many would opt for dresses and cheongsam instead,” she said.

The mall’s women’s department promoter Tan Siew Hwa, 40, said the trendiest clothes this year are bright, red dresses trimmed with lace.

“These dresses are always popular among the ladies as the colour red complements them and the lace adds a timeless feel to the dresses.

“Laced dresses are always popular among the ladies.

“Even cheongsam and modern-style hanfu nowadays are designed with lace, which are equally popular.

“As lace is a delicate material, it never gets outdated so they can always wear it even after the festive season,” she added.

Red is in again: (From left) chok with her daughter, father-in-law and Paul looking at the rat themed T-shirts during at sunshine square in bayan baru, Penang.