2015年CRI 京剧主题“脸基尼”走红

京剧主题“脸基尼”走红

The facial swimwear mask, first born in 2004, has become widely popular in a culture where females value pale skin as delicate and feminine. Zhang Shifan, a former accountant from Qingdao City in China's eastern Shandong province and the product's inventor, came up with the idea based on customers' requests for a full-body swim mask that would protect them from the sun and jellyfish.

Zhang says despite the product's remarkable¹ success, it also scared small children and other visitors at the beach. To fix the problem, Zhang thought of incorporating the widely popular face paintings from traditional Pekin Opera for the product's latest and fifth version.

"In the past I really wanted to do everything I could to avoid scaring people. If I was to make a face-kini, I wouldn't make a black one, I wouldn't make a white one, nor dark colours, nor brown, nor even grey... But scaring people still couldn't be avoided. So I thought--why don't I draw on some of these Peking opera designs that Chinese people like? So little children might not be so scared when they see these designs."

At only 5 or 6 dollars a pair, Zhang's creation has attracted a loyal following across China as well as many counterfeits³.

64-year-old Wang Baoyu, a loyal customer of the "face-kini" for nearly a decade, expresses her love for the authentic⁴ product.

"I'm afraid of getting stung by jellyfish, so I buy face-kinis. Face-kinis also prevent you from getting tanned. This store is authentic and I rode a bus for more than an hour just to come here. I wouldn't dare buy other face-kinis from street vendors⁵ as I'm afraid of buying counterfeit² ones."

Liu Keliang, Zhang's husband, says he and his wife are committed to continually improving their products.

"Within just 10 years, the scope of uses for the face-kini has expanded. The face-kini doesn't just have to be used when showering, or swimming in the ocean, but it can also prevent one from tanning when hiking outside, or outside when in the forest for an outdoor excursion. This is a new technology that reflects our modern lifestyle."

The "face-kini" sold around 30,000 units last year. As China enters its summer season, Zhang plans to begin sales of the updated version in early August.

For CRI, I am Victor Ning.

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

3 counterfeits   

v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Objects and people looked like counterfeits of themselves. 各种人和事好象都给自己披上了伪装。 来自辞典例句
• We have seen many counterfeits, but we are born believers in great men. 我们见过许多骗子，但是我们天生信赖伟人。 来自辞典例句

4 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

5 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓