Guizhou ethnic traditions meet modern fashion at China Fashion Week

Editor's note: Fashion brand Guaxin and Guizhou's "Village T" staged a joint runway show themed "Endless Vitality" during the 2026 China Fashion Week (Autumn) at Beijing's 798 Art District on Sept. 5.

The show paired Guaxin's latest designs with a presentation by Guizhou villagers in traditional ethnic dress. The new collection drew on motifs including baoxiang floral patterns, sea-and-cliff designs and auspicious sheep imagery, ahead of the Year of the Sheep in 2027.

Guaxin was founded by brothers Yang Chunshan and Yang Chunlin, who are of the Miao ethnic group. The brand incorporates embroidery, batik and other ethnic cultural elements into contemporary fashion.

The 62 participants who traveled from Guizhou for the show ranged in age from 3 to 82. They are part of "Village T," a grassroots fashion initiative that invites local residents of all ages to model traditional ethnic costumes. A children's ensemble made its runway debut, playing the lusheng, a reed-pipe instrument popular among ethnic groups in southwest China.

Two older women from Guizhou walk the runway as models during the 2026 China Fashion Week (Autumn) in Beijing, Sept. 5, 2026. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]