The 1929 standardisation of the Chinese Red Army uniform represents a pivotal yet under-examined moment in revolutionary material culture. Utilising non-invasive comparative analysis of the Gutian artefact against a canonical Zhongshan suit, this study reveals the uniform was not a replication but a calculated process of ‘sartorial bricolage’. Empirical data confirm that while retaining the Zhongshan silhouette, specific morphological adaptations—simplified pockets and reduced buttons—were implemented to accommodate wartime labour and material constraints. Archival evidence connects these choices to the Changting production hub, demonstrating an integrated, self-sufficient supply chain. The study posits that the uniform operated within a ‘symbolic economy’, achieving maximum ideological visibility—specifically officer-soldier equality—through minimal expenditure. By situating the artefact within a ‘Design–Resource–Policy’ model, this article argues the uniform functioned as an interface of military governance, offering critical insights into how visual culture and resource rationalisation coalesce under extreme constraints.
Luo et al. (Tue,) studied this question.