The second annual “Silk Fashion Festival” kicked off at China National Silk Museum as a vibrant showcase that brings together various exhibitions and activities, like “A Life in Brocade: Qian Xiaoping’s Silk Art Show,” the “Beauty in Utility” Salon for the cultured, and the “Sino-Italian Fashion Rendezvous.” Additionally, there’s an exhibition titled “Local and Reimagined: Contemporary Art and Design with Natural Dyes,” complemented by an international symposium and workshops. These events offer visitors a tangible experience of a fashion extravaganza that bridges time and space.

2025 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. In celebration, China National Silk Museum has teamed up with Zhejiang Sci-Tech University to host the “Sino-Italian Fashion and Art Rendezvous.” Thirty-two talented young designers from both countries were invited to reinterpret traditional patterns like the Tang Dynasty Crimson Winged Horse Brocade, Southern Song Dynasty Camellia Pattern Gauze, and Liao Dynasty Lotus Pond and Wild Geese Embroidery, using them as inspiration for contemporary designs under the theme of “Translating in Today’s Fashion Context.” Their creations were showcased at the “Sino-Italian Fashion and Art Rendezvous: Silk Cultural Heritage Innovation Design” fashion show.

The Biennial Natural Dye Exhibition is one of the signature events here. This year, it focuses on the theme “Local and Reimagined,” featuring 104 pieces or sets of work from around 130 artists and researchers across more than ten countries including China, India, Japan, the UK, Germany, Poland, and Mexico. The exhibition not only honors ancient techniques but showcases innovative interpretations through a modern lens, allowing traditional crafts rooted in local culture to engage in a dialogue across eras. It will run until March 10, 2026.

According to reports, the “Silk Fashion Festival” project was initiated last year by the Silk Museum to promote the silk industry in Zhejiang, spread silk culture, preserve and innovate upon the intangible cultural heritage of sericulture and silk weaving in China, and establish contemporary silk fashion brands.