Lisu Costume Culture of Yanbian unveiled in China International Fashion Show Tradition and Modernity in full Bloom

On March 22, Beijing 798-751 Park is full of brilliance. A Lisu costume show with the theme of “Intangible Cultural Heritage Sichuan · 100 Cities and 100 Arts” set off an oriental aesthetic storm at the main show of China International Fashion Week (Spring). This visual feast, jointly created by the inheritors of Lisu costumes in Yanbian and four pioneering designers, with the double honors of being included in the sixth batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage of Sichuan Province in 2023 and being awarded the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Sichuan · 100 Cities and 100 Arts” project in 2024 as its cultural foundation, allows the intangible cultural heritage genes in the deep mountains to bloom in the context of modern fashion.

Lisu costume released at the main show of China International Fashion Week (Spring). Photo by Lun Xiaoxuan of China.org.cn

When Cultural Epics Visit High-level Customization, the Myth of Intangible Heritage Comes into a New Life

When the Lisu Huocao linen meets the laser cutting process, and when the knife marks of the sheepskin coat talk to the three-dimensional tailoring curves, the cultural genes that have been sleeping for thousands of years are instantly awakened. On the catwalk, the Lisu "sunflower" totem bloomed in digital printing, the twelve mountain groups of pleated skirts turned into flowing sculptures, and the crossbow pattern and contemporary stripes composed a geometric poem. Designer Liu Guanhua reconstructed the silhouette with the traditional philosophy of “the heart of the clothes is on the left”, Jiang Zhiyuan integrated the wisdom of belt binding into minimalism, Yao Cong activated urban aesthetics with octagonal flower patterns, and Guo Ming’ao used the texture of Huocao linen to dialogue with environmentally friendly fabrics - each work is a cultural dialogue across time and space.

Lisu costume released at the main show of China International Fashion Week (Spring). Photo by Lun Xiaoxuan of China.org.cn

Oriental Aesthetics are Decoded in International Stages, and the Fashion Industry Reevaluates its Cultural Values

The whole show was based on the pioneering concept of “wearing on the body”. Models wore gradient rainbow long skirts and shuttled through the stage, recreating the legend of the Lisu people “picking 77 mountain flowers to make clothes”. Fashion critics praised: “This show proves that intangible cultural heritage is not a specimen in a museum, but a flowing contemporary art. When the warmth of the Lisu fireplace meets the spotlight of the international show, what is born is a truly oriental aesthetic system belonging to the 21st century.” On social media, the topic #Intangible Cultural Heritage Sichuan˙100 Cities and 100 Arts##Yanbian˙Lisu Costumes# quickly became a hot topic, and young audiences were touched by the details of the costumes: the skirt columns transformed from 99 rivers, the contemporary art of the combination of crossbow patterns and colored strips, make each work an “epic worn on the body”.

Lisu costume released at the main show of China International Fashion Week (Spring). Photo by Lun Xiaoxuan of China.org.cn

Designers Work Together to Decode Cultural DNA and Create a New Paradigm of Oriental Aesthetics

From the mountains to the international catwalk, this cultural feast embodies the inherited wisdom of two generations. Central Saint Martins students Liu Guanhua and Jiang Zhiyuan deconstructed tradition with a global perspective, Beijing Fashion University talented student Yao Cong and Tsinghua student Guo Mingao explored the contemporary translation of intangible cultural heritage, and the embroidery needle of provincial intangible cultural heritage inheritor He Zhengfen was always the soul vein throughout the show. Together, they proved that true cultural confidence lies not only in copying traditional symbols, but in using the universal design language to tell China's unique cultural stories. When the post-00s wear clothing with Lisu patterns, the civilization that has been passed down for thousands of years will continus to grow with them.

Lisu costume released at the main show of China International Fashion Week (Spring). Photo by Lun Xiaoxuan of China.org.cn

With Intangible Heritage Economy Empowering to Seek Common Prosperity, Yanbian Explores New Paths of Breakthrough

Yanbian’s long history and cultural context, and the collision and integration of multi-ethnic cultures has left behind many colorful intangible cultural heritages. This show is not only a feast of culture and perspective, but also a vivid footnote for Yanbian's intangible cultural heritage empowering rural revitalization.

Lisu costume released at the main show of China International Fashion Week (Spring). Photo by Lun Xiaoxuan of China.org.cn

In recent years, Yanbian County has cultivated 46 intangible heritage projects, innovatively implemented the “intangible cultural heritage +” integration strategy around the intangible cultural heritage system, and promoted the in-depth integration and development of agriculture, culture, and tourism in the whole region. It has successively built 2 intangible cultural heritage learning centers and 7 intangible cultural heritage workshops, developed cultural and creative products such as Lisu costumes and Miao batik, and actively guided the healthy development of intangible cultural heritage food industries such as Yanbian mutton rice noodles and Yanbian oil-bottomed meat, explored the establishment of a new industry system of “flavorful Yanbian”, and helped build a common prosperity pilot zone. (End)

翻译：暨南大学 张凤

Translated by: Jinan University Feng Zhang

审核：北京优译文化传媒有限公司 毛敏

Reviewed by: Beijing Yooyi Culture and Media Com., Ltd. Mao Min