China's Miao ethnic culture captivated international audiences when Miao embroidery appeared on the runway at the recently concluded Milan Fashion Week, while also featuring in another exhibition held on the sidelines of the same event in Italy's fashion capital. 

Miao embroidery, known for its exquisite attention to detail, took center stage at Milan Fashion Week on September 24, as Chinese designer Zhao Huizhou unveiled her Spring/Summer 2024 collection. This season marked the designer's 13th appearance at this prestigious event. And this time, she drew inspiration from the five-color square patterns used on the traditional clothes of the Siyin Miao, or the Four Seals Miao, one of the branches of the Miao ethnic group.  

More than 4.3 million Miao people call southwest China's Guizhou Province home. Their kaleidoscopically colorful embroidered costumes, which featuring unique patterns inspired by nature and their ethnic history, are recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage and are regarded as "living fossils" of Miao culture.  

"This time, my designs were inspired by the five-color square Miao patterns, which are a unique cultural element that has great historical, cultural, social and artistic values. The Four Seals Miao make their clothes in a way that not only shows the artistic talent of their women, but also serves as a tool to carry on their traditional culture," said the designer.  

Zhao has been trying for years to preserve and to inject new life into China's intangible cultural heritage by modern fashion, and her previous shows in Milan have all centered on traditional Chinese culture.  

Seeking new creative ways to present China's intangible cultural heritage to a wider audience, this time the designer invited singer A Duo, who was dressed in re-designed Siyin Miao-style costume, to take to the Milan runway with an ethnic singing performance. 

In addition to the runway show, an exhibition featuring Miao accessories and dresses featuring various styles of Miao embroidery was also held in Milan.  

All the exhibits on display, which were collected from various cultural institutions, Miao embroidery inheritors and private collectors, represent the best of Miao embroidery.  

"This exhibition showcases the charm of the ethnic history and culture of the Miao people, and has made me fall deeply in love with Miao embroidery. It has brought a traditional handicraft of the East to the West, promoting exchanges and understanding between traditional Eastern culture and modern Western culture," said Italian designer Rosia Rattin. 

Jointly hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Milan and the Guizhou Provincial Government, the exhibition was seen as an opportunity to present traditional Chinese culture and accelerate the industrialization, internationalization and rebranding of Miao embroidery.