Tradition and modernity combine in fashion show
At the recent China Fashion Week, the Sichuan Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yanbian Lisu Ethnic Group Clothes show saw a splendid collision of tradition and modernity on the fashion stage based on the avant-garde concept of "wearing on the body".
On the runway, models adorned in gradient rainbow long skirts moved through the stage, reenacting the ancient legend of the Lisu ethnic group "picking 77 mountain flowers to make clothes".
In addition to showcasing traditional Lisu clothing, the show also integrated haute couture and ready-to-wear segments, with designers skillfully combining ethnic elements with modern fashion, each piece resembling a cultural dialogue transcending time and space.
Gu Yan, organizer of the show, also director of Yanbian Lisu ethnic group research association, shares the profound cultural connotations behind Lisu ethnic clothing.
According to her, "Lisu ethnic clothing carries rich historical significance. Our clothes are made of flowers from 77 mountains, the belt represents the rainbow in the sky, the alternating white and red on the pleated skirt symbolize the 99 rivers and 12 mountain ranges, while the white patterns below symbolize the path our ancestors took''.
Gu says participating in China Fashion Week was aimed at reviving ethnic clothing in daily life, wearing traditional culture, and spreading it to a wider audience.
