QIXI Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, falls on Saturday this year. The traditional holiday has roots that date back to a Han Dynasty (202 B.C. -A.D. 220) legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The story goes that they fell deeply in love, but the Emperor of Heaven didn’t approve of their love and the Milky Way was created to separate them. Moved by their love, a flock of magpies gathered over the Milky Way to build a bridge for the couple to meet. The emperor was so touched that he decreed that the star-crossed lovers would be allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh Chinese lunar month. Now, that day is celebrated by couples and brands alike. Luxury brands that have been keen to get in on the action dropped themed collections to get customers into the spirit of the day. Here are some of them. Versace’s Capsule Collection Versace’s Qixi Capsule Collection includes clothing splashed with the Baroccoflage print, which mixes a camouflage-inspired pattern and the brand’s iconic Barocco motif. The new print is rendered in shades of pink and fuchsia on dresses and tops for women and hues of blue on T-shirts and sweatshirts for men. Additionally, the range includes accessories boasting the house’s La Medusa logo on bags, keychains and kitten-heeled sling-back shoes. Prada Qixi The most noteworthy pieces of this collection are the bags, many of which are Prada bestsellers that have gotten a Qixi makeover. As a Chinese Valentine’s Day exclusive, the Prada Odette bag is now available in the shape of a heart and in three colors — rose petal, fire red and black. For men, there is a special edition of the Saffiano leather Brique bag in a red and black combo with a brand-new tag designed to store love messages. LV Fall In Love Collection Designer Nicolas Ghesquière created completely exclusive items for this limited edition collection, such as the special packaging for their Heures d’Absence, Sun Song and C?ur Battant fragrances. The new graphics are also featured on casual tees and dresses. Gucci’s Qixi Gifts In honor of Qixi Festival, Gucci fuses their Les Pommes motif with red love hearts for a collection that perfectly straddles the line between cute and kitschy. Dive into the collection’s denim offerings; each piece is stamped with the small but significant Gucci apple. For a louder, more defined statement, don the heart cardigan. Qeelin Yu Yi Love Locks If you’re looking for a fitting gift that incorporates Chinese culture symbols, look no further than the Qeelin Yu Yi Love Locks. Founder of Qeelin, Dennis Chan, explained that the Yu Yi lock could be a symbol of locking in your commitment to another person. Legend has it that the Chinese God of Love would use red thread to bind soul mates to each other, making the red stone all the more appropriate for the occasion. Valentino Amore 2021 Valentino keeps it classic with their Qixi Festival series. Dominated by reds and whites, the series sticks to the most classic symbol of love — red hearts. Upgrade your kicks game with the One Stud Calfskin Low-Top Sneakers. The red lines on the white base make for an ultra clean shoe and the big red hearts on the heel are a nice nod to the holiday. Balenciaga Qixi 2021 Series To mark Qixi, Balenciaga has given its cult-favorite handbag an update — a fluffy pink one. The idea, according to the fashion label, is to remind you of the cuddly stuffed toys that loved ones traditionally give each other during the festival. (SD-Agencies) | 