Touch of tradition: Chinese Yi embroidery steals show at Milan Fashion Week
Bringing a touch of tradition to the cutting-edge world of couture, Chinese Yi embroidery made its debut appearance on the catwalk of Milan Fashion Week this week. The cross-border, ready to wear designs by Ji Cheng feature traditional Yi embroidery from the Chuxiong Yi region in south west China.
Chuxiong Yi embroidery is over 1,700 years old and recognized for its intricate bright patterns and rich use of colors.
"We like using our heritage, instead of all of the modern stuff, especially the embroidery which employs many different colors. We like to present it in a modern, contemporary way," designer Ji Cheng told CGTN.
At a packed palazzo in central Milan, fashionistas from around the world gathered to watch the designs hit the runway. The show included a collaboration with Italian brand Coccinelle.
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"Ji Cheng has been great in dressing up our iconic Coccinelle bag in her way with this touch of tradition from China," Coccinelle's chief operating officer Emanuele Mazziotta said.
The sleek leather handbags are combined with Yi embroidery heritage.
"This collaboration is a kind of melting pot between tradition in China and modernity," Mazziotta added.
Chinese Yi embroidery wowed audiences at the show at Milan Fashion Week. /CGTN Europe
China's Yi ethnic minority have thousands of years of experience of the craft even though their tradition was at risk of being lost. It's seen a special revival in its home of Chuxiong state after an investment program which included education and building 260 embroidery workshops.
"We like to help the ladies over there, because we have 50,000 women making these by hand so we can give them jobs, let them stay in their hometown, so they can take care of their children. I think our main purpose as a Chinese designer is to do this and we love that," Cheng added.
In the last few years, designs featuring the traditional stitching have been shown at Beijing, Shanghai, New York and now Milan Fashion Week. In 2022, Yi embroidery was worth more than $33 million to the region's economy.
With 30,000 visitors and a global audience of millions, Milan is one of the world's most influential fashion shows so and an excellent platform for Cheng to showcase her work.
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