In late October, the “Eastern Elegance · Timeless Tale” Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)  Fashion Series Events, under the guidance of the Prince Kung’s Palace Museum of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, were held at the MGM Cotai’s Spectacle Atrium in Macau. SFD was honoured to receive an invitation to send a delegation of 12 faculty members and students to participate in this prestigious event. Together with 60 faculty members and students from various institutions across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, they attended the “Fashion Expression and Industrial Development of ICH” forum and took part in three practical workshops focused on the themes of cultural inheritance and innovation. These activities explored how contemporary design concepts and inspiration could be drawn from China’s outstanding traditional culture, transforming them into market-oriented trends. The ultimate goal was to integrate ICH craftsmanship into modern life and bring it closer to younger generations.

Recognition for SFD faculty and students at the ICH Fashion Series Events

The “Fashion Expression and Industrial Development of ICH” forum united ICH masters, renowned scholars, cultural inheritors, and creative designers to engage in profound dialogues about the preservation and innovative evolution of ICH in contemporary society. Through academic exchanges, demonstrations of techniques, and collisions of creativity from multiple perspectives, the forum delved into the contemporary significance of ICH culture. It explored new ways of expression, pathways for development, and opportunities for growth in the current era.

The event featured three thoughtfully designed practical workshops. In the “Deconstruction: High-End Dressmaking Patterns” workshop, internationally acclaimed fashion designer Laurence Xu led students in an in-depth exploration of the structural styles of haute couture garment patterns. The “Ingenuity: Patterns and Embroidery Techniques” workshop showcased the exquisite craftsmanship of several ICH embroidery masters, who also provided hands-on guidance to students in techniques such as tin embroidery, bead embroidery, and French embroidery. Lastly, the “Style: Into the World of Stage Makeup and Hair” workshop adopted a highly interactive “masterclass” format, offering students a first-hand appreciation of the core processes involved in professional makeup artistry.

The practical outcomes of the workshops were seamlessly integrated with live fashion performances, offering a comprehensive showcase of several haute couture garments that fused Chinese and Western cultural elements. These pieces were part of the "2024 Paris · Prince Kung’s Palace Fashion Show" - a project of the China-France Cultural and Tourism Year. The event highlighted the entire creative journey, from behind-the-scenes craftsmanship in the workshops to the polished presentation on the runway, providing an in-depth view of the complete process from conception to execution.

The scene from the practical workshops

A Glimpse of the “2024 Paris · Prince Kung’s Palace Fashion Show”

This event, centred on fashion as a universal language, offered young design talents from the Greater Bay Area a valuable platform for learning and exchange. It demonstrated the adaptability and continuity of China's traditional culture in contemporary fashion, inspiring future designers and promoting the integration of Intangible Cultural Heritage into modern life. Participants widely acknowledged the event’s significant benefits.