Finding fantastic fashion far away

A British design instructor explores remote communities of the Miao ethnic group to find inspiration. Liu Xiangrui reports.

When British fashion instructor Natalie Gibson paid a four-day visit to Beijing to judge a fashion show years ago, she had little inkling that a side trip to a local market would lead to greater journeys.

That's because she encountered for the first time the traditional attire of the Miao ethnic group. She was fascinated by the clothing's aesthetics and carried several garments back with her to London.