Chinese designer Hui Zhou Zhao has made her 19th appearance at Milan Fashion Week, bringing traditional Chinese craftsmanship to one of the world's leading fashion capitals.

At the historic Palazzo Turati, Hui presented her Spring/Summer 2027 collection, 'Fan Code'.

"The collection draws inspiration from the fan," Hui told CGTN. "The colours and emotions evoked are conveyed in the garments through fabrics, embroidery, and Chinese craftsmanship."

The collection is rooted in Chinese tradition but designed for a global audience.

It reflects a wider conversation at Milan Fashion Week this year: how heritage and craftsmanship can evolve in an industry being transformed by technology and globalization.

"As a Chinese fashion designer – and one of the first to participate in Fashion Week – I have always dedicated myself to bringing traditional Chinese culture and artisan craft to the global stage," Hui told CGTN.

Xiaoyan Zhou, President of the Milan Huaxia Group, says Milan's position as a global fashion centre makes the city particularly important for Chinese designers.

"There are four main cities in the world for fashion, New York, London, Paris and Milan – and Milan Fashion Week for us is very important," she told CGTN.

The relationship between China and Italy is also being strengthened through the textile industry.

At WHITE Milano, the trade show held during Milan Fashion Week, there is a dedicated pavilion for China's Keqiao textile hub for the first time. 

"Starting this collaboration with Keqiao for us is a key point because we can work to connect Chinese textile companies and brands to designers, buyers and distributors in the European and international market," Brenda Bellei, CEO of WHITE Milano told CGTN. 

Mario Boselli, President of the Italy China Council Foundation and Honorary President of Italy's National Chamber of Fashion, told CGTN that Keqiao has become an important part of the fashion supply chain.

"Keqiao is a very important city for the pipeline from fibre to finished goods, and it has developed significantly in the past decade," he said.

For Hui, the exchange works in both directions. 

"Throughout these 19 years of Milan Fashion Week, I have gained extensive knowledge of Italy – its culture and history – as well as Europe, and this inspires me greatly," she said.

Her experience reflects an increasingly connected fashion landscape, where Chinese and Italian traditions are influencing one another and adapting to a changing global industry.