Photo shows a piece of brocade designed by Qian Xiaoping. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) In a dazzling display of East-meets-West glamour, a launch event on innovative design inspired by Silk Road cultural heritage was held at France's Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts on Oct. 14.
The event, serving as the finale for the 2024 Silk Road Week, showcased over 40 original outfits co-designed by Chinese and French designers, blending iconic patterns of ancient Silk Road fashion with modern fashion. In recent years, clothing with traditional Chinese cultural elements has captured the hearts of people worldwide and made waves in international fashion circles. The fusion of intangible cultural heritage techniques with modern craftsmanship, together with creative design empowered by digital technologies, has breathed new life into China's millennia-old clothing.
Traditional Chinese costumes have evolved over thousands of years into a complex system in terms of materials, styles, craftsmanship, colors and patterns. For example, Song brocade, dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is renowned for its vibrant colors, exquisite patterns, and durable yet soft textures and is seen as a shining jewel in the crown of Chinese clothing culture. Early this century, the traditional weaving techniques of Song brocade were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in China and were added to the intangible cultural heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and.