AT the Nanning Museum, located in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a striking black pleated skirt adorned with vibrant ethnic minority elements has been a crowd-puller, attracting flocks of tourists to take photos. This unique creation, designed by renowned Milanese designer Giancarlo Mossi Borella, is a standout feature of the museum’s collection. Borella’s design is a creative fusion of Western fashion and traditional craftsmanship of ethnic minority groups in Southwest China. One notable feature of the dress is its black color, which holds great significance for local ethnic minority communities. To pay homage to this tradition, Borella chose this color for the design. The dress also boasts pleated outer yarn on top of a skirt, adding a delightful texture to the garment. To further enhance its cultural authenticity, he decorated the dress with handmade belts, headdresses and accessories that are emblematic of the minority groups. “For the design of this dress, we were inspired by Guangxi’s Zhuang brocade, and it took me two weeks to choose the color to match the belt’s patterns. We developed a concept but our Chinese partners made it real,” said Yosmany Larrea, Borella’s assistant, adding that the design combines distinctive elements of Chinese ethnic minority groups with Western aesthetics. Borella and Larrea share a deep appreciation for ethnic cultures, and they first learned about Guangxi’s ethnic groups back in 2018. In December 2019, they led a team of Italian designers to Nanning and Longzhou to witness first-hand the exceptional skills of the Zhuang people in creating brocade fabrics. “I was amazed on arriving at the workshop, and I felt like I stepped into a magical land. Weaving skills are good, and Zhuang brocade is beautiful. I touched the materials. I hoped to combine Zhuang brocade elements into my design immediately,” Borella said. During the visit, Borella was deeply impressed by the remarkable skills of the Zhuang ethnic people in creating brocade fabrics and their rich cultural heritage. He felt compelled to incorporate these unique elements into his design and share them with the world. Larrea noted that in China’s ethnic minority areas, ethnic culture and art are deeply intertwined with people’s daily lives and work. He Ka, head of Guangxi Jinzhuangjin Culture and Art Co., Ltd., has been actively engaged in promoting the local ethnic culture to the world. He has worked closely with Borella and his team, fostering a productive exchange and cooperation between them. His company, in collaboration with the Italian designers, designs and sells clothing and accessories under the brand name DONNA HECCA. The exhibition hall of He’s company showcases a variety of handbag samples. “We use raw materials with distinctive ethnic characteristics that are sourced from China. Borella and his team design the products, which are then produced in Italy,” He said, adding that the brand has produced over 100 SKUs of women’s handbags, clothing and household items. “Italy boasts a wealth of cultural and artistic heritage, while Guangxi is renowned for its ethnic minority culture. By combining these two, we can break free from traditional designs and create a new fusion,” He added. DONNA HECCA now plans to expand its product line to include perfume too. Guangxi is rich in raw materials suitable for perfume production, making it an ideal location for sourcing ingredients, He explained. “We are planning a trip to Italy this year and hope to create more new products after face-to-face interactions,” He said. Borella is confident that the Zhuang brocade from China has a promising future in the European market. (Xinhua) | 