The 2026 Shantou Fashion Week Debut Illuminates the Century-Old Commercial Port

2026-03-24 10:25:30

Tonight (16th), Shantou's Xiaogongyuan was brilliantly lit, with the interplay of light and shadow among the arcades as the 2026 Shantou Fashion Week made its grand debut under the theme "Heritage in Fashion: Shantou Shines in Xiaogongyuan." The show transformed the century-old landmark arcade street into a runway, creating a dynamic collision between Chaoshan's intangible cultural heritage and modern fashion design. By combining cultural roots with industrial showcase, it highlighted the robust strength and cultural confidence of Shantou's textile and garment industry, serving as a prelude to the 5th Chaoshan International Textile and Garment Expo set to open on March 18.

The rhythmic drumbeats awakened the memories of the old street. The opening performance, "Drum Dance," captivated the audience with powerful drumming echoing from the depths of the arcades, accompanied by flowing light and shadow effects, delivering a uniquely Chaoshan audiovisual experience and marking the first heartbeat of the 2026 Shantou Fashion Week. Following this, a 30-minute fashion extravaganza officially began, unfolding in four progressive chapters: "Tide and Moisture," "Symbiosis," "Blazing Glory," and "Eternal Flame." Forty professional models from home and abroad, dressed in conceptual outfits blending Chaoshan culture with international design, gracefully walked out from the arcades, staging a cross-temporal fashion dialogue.

Hong Yujing, a master of arts and crafts in Guangdong Province and a municipal-level inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage (Chaozhou embroidery), as one of the core creators, introduced in an interview: "We worked closely with designers to integrate the three-dimensional relief and resplendent core features of Chaozhou embroidery into modern clothing." She explained that Chaozhou embroidery boasts a history of thousands of years. Just as a tree needs pruning to rejuvenate, this ancient craft can only truly reach households by embracing innovation and keeping pace with the times.

Hu Xiaolin, design director of Oriental Chivis, highly praised the innovative format of this debut show. She noted that today’s consumers increasingly value emotional resonance and cultural experiences, with younger generations showing growing appreciation for traditional culture. Combining intangible heritage with international fashion not only helps more people understand Chaoshan culture but also aligns with current consumption trends and fashion movements. "Holding a Fashion Show at Shantou’s Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion in Xiaogongyuan—a landmark embodying Chinese culture and urban memory—is an exceptionally innovative attempt."

It is reported that Shantou’s textile and garment industry holds numerous national titles, such as "China’s Export Base for Knitted Sweaters" and "China’s Capital of Underwear and Loungewear." In recent years, through the implementation of the new "Four Major Projects," the industry has continuously strengthened and expanded its supply chain. The production capacity of nylon textiles has significantly increased, while the Textile Materials Innovation Center and the Textile and Garment College have been established. The smart logistics system is also being refined, steadily advancing toward the goal of "building a globally influential textile and garment industry hub." A century ago, red-headed ships set sail from Shantou, carrying silk and porcelain to the world. Tonight, fashion returns upstream along the Maritime Silk Road, refocusing the world’s attention on this centuries-old commercial port and redefining the era’s essence: "Guangdong goods travel the world; to see the world, look to Guangdong goods."

Write by: Hong Xia

Quoted from:

https://www.macaobusinessnews.com/?p=89872oya