Photos – courtesy of China National Silk Museum ©
The China National Silk Museum (NSM) has launched its first-ever Silk Fashion Festival, a milestone event that underscores the museum’s dedication to preserving and innovating Chinese fashion traditions through the artistry of silk. Building on a legacy that began with its first fashion retrospective in 2011, NSM continues to fulfil its mission of “collecting today for tomorrow,” curating an impressive collection of Chinese fashion pieces and establishing itself as a hub for annual fashion exhibitions.
The festival debuted on November 16th, with over 100 guests gathering to celebrate silk’s timeless appeal. A rich lineup of activities included fashion shows, academic salons, and exhibitions showcasing the intersection of tradition and modernity. Highlights of the event included:
Silk Road Cultural Heritage and Innovative Design
The festival’s opening featured a retrospective of NSM’s Silk Road Week at the Guimet Museum in Paris, underscoring the museum’s global reach. Director Ji Xiaofen unveiled her Tang-style Ruqun series, weaving elements of intangible cultural heritage into modern design. “Silk embodies tradition and modernity, celebrating life and art,” Ji remarked, envisioning the festival as a bridge between NSM and the international fashion community.
In collaboration with Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, NSM presented a vibrant fashion show inspired by Silk Road Cultural Heritage. Held at the iconic Guimet Museum, the collection highlighted silk’s enduring elegance.
The Winged Horse: A Fusion of History and Modernity
NSM partnered with ANTA Group to create the Comfy Winged Horse Shoes and Apparel, inspired by the museum’s Tang Dynasty Brocade with Winged Horse Pattern. This innovative collection merged ancient artistry with contemporary fashion, symbolizing cultural integration and timeless design.
Wedding Dresses: Honoring Tradition and Innovation
An exhibition titled A Lifetime of Clothes: The Golden Years of Chinese Wedding Dresses offered an in-depth look at the evolution of Chinese women’s wedding costumes from 1949 to the present. Showcasing dowry traditions, ethnic heritage, and craftsmanship, the exhibit explored the stories behind wedding attire through history.
Complementing the exhibition, the wedding dress fashion show celebrated tradition and creativity with three collections: ancient Han-style dresses, designs rooted in intangible cultural heritage, and modern bridal creations. These collections reflected the deep cultural pride and innovative spirit of Chinese wedding traditions.
To deepen the conversation, NSM hosted an academic salon, Wedding Dresses: Research on Chinese Wedding Dresses from a Multidimensional Perspective, bringing together scholars to discuss the historical, cultural, and design evolution of wedding attire.
Bridging Cultures with Digital Art
The Beautiful Dreams: Digital Art of Western Fashion exhibition offered an immersive experience into Western costume history. Leveraging VR and lighting art, this groundbreaking exhibit brought 17th- to 20th-century Western fashion to life, using digitalization to reimagine historical garments for a modern audience.
A Celebration of Silk’s Global Legacy
The Silk Fashion Festival solidifies NSM’s role as a cultural bridge, connecting traditional silk craftsmanship with global fashion trends. By weaving together history, innovation, and artistry, the festival projects Chinese aesthetic values onto the world stage, fostering a universal appreciation for the beauty of silk and the legacy of the Silk Road.
