China, the 'golden thread' of fashion friendship

Not even the rain and autumn chill could keep the crowds away as Beijing became a meeting place for fashion, diplomacy and cultural exchange. Jinshang Fashion Week, themed Golden Thread 2026, drew participants from more than 10 countries, representatives from over 30 embassies and fashion lovers from across the city.

Since Jinshang Square opened in 2016, this was only the second year it hosted the fashion event, with an ambition to create a platform where culture and creativity can enter everyday life.

Founder Lilian Tian, a Beijing native, says the city has been both her hometown and her lifelong classroom, shaping her perspective and inspiring her to give something back.

"The heart shapes the environment, and the environment shapes the heart," Tian told CGTN during a post-show interview.

"Fashion is a powerful expression of who we are, so I believe it deserves a space that inspires creativity and meaningful connection. Jinshang Square is a place we have built with great care and passion. It brings together artists, designers, entrepreneurs and diplomats, creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet and exchange ideas."

Her ties with diplomats have developed over a decade, helping to build events like these and positioning China as the "golden thread" connecting the conversation.

In this way, the event becomes both a fashion showcase and a live display of cultural diplomacy. Through textiles, craftsmanship and inspired fashion, Beijing’s diplomatic community creates space for Eastern and Western traditions to meet in a different capacity.

"China is home to one of the world’s great civilizations, with a cultural heritage spanning 5,000 years. That heritage is not confined to museums or history books; it lives in our design, our materials, our traditions and the details of everyday life," said Tian.

"For me, genuine cultural exchange goes beyond fashion or the arts. It happens through lifestyle, shared experiences and the way people live every day. These everyday connections are what turn cultural differences into mutual understanding."

With each intricately designed garment modeled down the runway came an introduction to a different culture – from Equatorial Guinea to Türkiye, Ethiopia, Slovakia, the Dominican Republic and more.

That sense of cultural meaning extends beyond the runway. Tian believes Chinese audiences are increasingly drawn to international couture that offers meaning alongside beauty. They are well traveled, culturally confident and less interested in wearing a logo for the sake of it. Instead, they want to know who made a garment, why it was created and which cultural history it carries.

"I believe people are looking for meaning as much as beauty. They want exceptional craftsmanship, a compelling story and a distinctive creative vision," she said.

That emphasis on meaning and craftsmanship also carries into questions of sustainability. With China pursuing green development as part of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Tian stresses the importance of creating fashion with greater care and responsibility.

"I believe there is a natural connection between traditional values and contemporary sustainability. Chinese traditions have long emphasized repairing, reusing, passing things down through generations and making objects that last. These principles reflect a respect for materials, craftsmanship and the resources that go into creating something," she said.

"Today, we see designers exploring similar ideas through natural dyes, hand embroidery, thoughtful material choices and slower production processes. When a garment is made with care and designed to be valued for years rather than discarded after a season, it becomes part of a more responsible approach to fashion. For me, heritage and sustainability are closely connected. One comes from the wisdom of the past; the other is an urgent priority for the future."

That connection between heritage and the future was echoed by Christoph Menke, a German philosopher and visiting professor at Peking University who specializes in aesthetics. Also in attendance, he told CGTN that contemporary fashion draws on the resources of both today and the past to shape what comes next.

"Bringing different cultures together is always a great idea. But what I have found most interesting is how the different cultures also have these productive relations to themselves, not only to the other, but how they can use these traditions in creative and innovative ways, so that they’re not repeating what they always were doing, but looking forward in the future and reinventing themselves," he said.

"How you can reinvent your own traditions in order to look into the future is something that’s relevant for every culture. It’s also done in China, every day, and I guess China is very open to seeing how this works in other parts of the world – in order to learn from them but also to encourage them and bring them together and be a place where these different experiments can take place at the same time in conversation."

That same balance of inheritance and innovation is reshaping China's global fashion identity. The country remains a major buyer, Tian said, but she expects its influence as a host and trendsetter to grow.

Importantly, the exchange is becoming two-way. International houses are no longer coming to China solely to reach consumers; they are also finding opportunities to collaborate with local creators.

"I believe the next chapter of 'Made in China' should stand for intention, originality, exceptional craftsmanship and responsibility – to people, to culture and to the planet," said Tian.

"The future of global fashion will be shaped by this kind of mutual exchange, where different cultures contribute on equal terms and create something new together."