Age-old Lijin brocade takes center stage

Lijin, which has a history of more than 3,000 years, has been listed on UNESCO's "Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding". The Miao embroidery craft has been passed down for generations among the Miao people.

The show also invited a special group as its models: women from the two ethnic groups who create the patterns or master the skills of dyeing or embroidering used in clothes displayed on the stage. They come from villages in rural places in Hainan and Guizhou province. Aged 40 to 74, these women earn a living by using their traditional skills obtained from their families.

Xia Hua, who initiated the show and brought these special models to the stage, said she wants more people to know the beautiful traditional costumes of the ethnic groups through fashion shows.