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HEADLINES | 要闻

By our staff correspondents □ 本刊综合
Carrying the legacy of a 1,800-year-old craft and oration between Chuxiong Fashion Week and China
the colorful silks of Yunnan, the art of Yi embroidery Fashion Week.
is building a cultural bridge. It links Beijing Foreign Dressed in exquisitely embroidered, colorful
Studies University with a global community, igniting attire, the international participants brought dynamic
a vibrant conversation between intangible cultural energy to Chegu Town in the 798/751 art district.
heritage (ICH) and contemporary fashion. Walking the red carpet past weathered train carriages,
At the recent China Fashion Week (autumn edi- their fluttering clothes and lively laughter sparked
tion) in Beijing, a collaboration between Yunnan’s enthusiastic cheers from the crowd of spectators.
Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Beijing The display seamlessly bridged heritage and haute
Foreign Studies University brought Yi intangible couture, featuring both the original ICH costumes of
cultural heritage to the streets. Sixteen foreign Chuxiong and contemporary catwalk designs. In this
participants modeled Yi-style garments and fusion, the vibrant patterns of Yi embroidery intertwined
accessories in the 798/751 art district. The with modern silhouettes like wildflowers blooming
striking contrast between their diverse across a mountainside, a vivid expression of the craft’s
features and the traditional costumes inherent softness and vitality. Kristine from Greece,
created a powerful visual and cultural who wore one of the pieces, captured the sentiment:
statement, drawing crowds of local and in- “It’s like a piece of artwork. The clothing is so detailed.”
ternational onlookers. Surrounded by eager tourists for photos the moment
With a history spanning over 1,800 years, she stepped off the stage, she added, “This was my first
the Yi embroidery of Chuxiong is an intangible event like this. I was thrilled to wear this dress, and the
cultural heritage that flows from the fingertips of atmosphere was absolutely impressive.”
its people. Each motif—the sun, flame, tiger, or “We genuinely hope to visit Chuxiong in Yunnan
Delavay rhododendron flower—serves as a to witness the creation process,” said Pan Nike and
cultural symbol, narrating tales of the Wang Zhixin from Russia, thoughtfully adjusting
Yi’s reverence for nature, remem- their attire. “Wearing such culturally significant tradi-
brance of ancestors, and hopes tional costumes for the first time, the delicate embroi-
for a brighter future. Often dery speaks directly to your touch. It’s an amazing
called “wearable history,” experience we want to share.”
this craft finds vibrant expres- Stepping off the catwalk in a pale blue dress ac-
sion in the annual Zhiju Costume cented with silver-white Yi embroidery, model Gao
Competition in Yongren County. A Liwen summed up her impression of the outfit in a
“fashion gala” ingrained in the Yi single word: “Elegant.” She elaborated, “Even with
heritage for over 1,350 years, the just a few ethnic touches, it’s precisely these elements
event sees young women proudly that create a perfect blend of modern and traditional.”
don self-sewn attire to showcase Her observation aligns with a key design philosophy
their needlework, a joyful compe- for innovating ethnic wear, as noted by Xie Fang-
tition rooted in a profound love ming, a full-time vice president of the China Fashion
for life. To this day, the village Designers Association. “For ethnic costumes to suc-
catwalk preserves its authentic ceed globally,” he stated, “we must move beyond rigid
spirit, with open fields as the stereotypes and integrate their unique stylistic elements
stage and folk melodies as the into contemporary designs, making new materials and
soundtrack. forms resonate with modern consumers.”
In 2023, the first Chux- Guided by this philosophy, Chuxiong Yi embroi-
iong Fashion Week was held, dery has forged a path to the international market. Its
attracting 24 delegations from momentum carried it to Paris in September 2024 for
seven countries, six Chinese a dedicated fashion show. Amidst the city’s legendary
provinces and autonomous glamour, the unique aesthetic of Yi embroidery left
regions, and 16 prefectures in a lasting impression on the local fashion scene. This
Yunnan. More than 1,100 follows successful appearances at other global plat-
garments and accessories forms, including New York and Milan fashion weeks
showed off their beauty and the China-South Asia Expo. “Seeing the clothes
on the stage. I made reach an international audience fills me with
T hi s y e a r pride,” remarked Yi embroiderer Pu Hongxia.
marked the Furthermore, through collaborations with prestig-
first collab- ious universities and designers, Chuxiong has reima-
gined traditional Yi embroidery patterns. These motifs
have been innovatively adapted for contemporary fash-
ion, accessories, home decor, and cultural products—
appearing as stylish notebook covers, elegant tea coast-
ers, and distinctive earrings. This strategic
effort has transitioned the craft from
protected cultural assets to de-
sirable lifestyle commodities.

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