KUNMING, China – Feb 13, 2025 – The convergence of tradition and innovation took center stage in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Southwestern China’s Yunnan province, as the “World Source of Costume Competition · Fashion Creativity Chuxiong” Intangible Cultural Heritage Integrated into Contemporary Fashion Design Partner Conference kicked off. The event, running from February 11 to 14, has drawn more than 160 fashion experts, designers, cultural custodians, and academics from all over the world.
Aiming to bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern design, the gathering focused on ways to incorporate intangible cultural heritage (ICH) into the global fashion industry. By fostering deeper collaborations between ICH practitioners and fashion designers, cultural treasures are poised to flourish within the global fashion ecosystem, according to a press briefing about the conference held on the evening of February 11.
Chuxiong, rich in Yi ethnic culture, has long been a treasure trove of ICH. From the ancient Bimo culture, Yi ethnic costumes, and their dynamic songs and dances to Yi medicine and colorful festivals, the prefecture boasts remarkable cultural diversity. Over recent years, Chuxiong has made big steps to systematize its heritage preservation effort.
It has established a four-tiered list of representative ICH projects and inheritors at the national, provincial, prefectural, and county levels. Additionally, a series of normative documents for the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage have been issued. By far, Chuxiong has applied for 14 national-level, 82 provincial-level, 282 prefectural-level, and 582 county-level representative ICH projects.
In a more tangible development, Chuxiong’s push to link ICH with economic growth has begun to yield remarkable results. One of the standout examples is Yi embroidery (Yi Xiu), which has evolved from a traditional craft into a burgeoning industry. In 2024 alone, the local Yi embroidery industry generated an impressive output of 1.3 billion yuan ($177.9 million).
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