A Unique Chinese Festival ①｜Miao Embroidery Meets the Northern Lights: “Guizhou Village T” Celebrates China’s National Day in the Arctic Circle!
“Happy birthday to our Motherland from within the Arctic Circle!” Recently, Miao designer Axin and his mother, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, traveled to Finland for a cultural exchange. They brought the exquisite Miao embroidery from Kaili, Guizhou, to the Arctic Circle, leaving their Nordic friends in awe, exclaiming, “So beautiful!” In an interview with Yangtze Evening News, Axin said they showcased their clothing in a fashion show, proudly presenting the “Guizhou Village T” project in the Arctic Circle. They also recorded a video in traditional Miao attire to wish their Motherland a happy birthday, wishing for prosperity and a bright future! During the National Day holiday, the “Guizhou Village T” will continue to be staged in Kaili, Guizhou, with different events every day, including the selection of “The Most Beautiful Village Flower” and “The Cutest Kid Model.”
Axin and his Mother Bring “Guizhou Village T” to Finland Celebrating China’s National Day in the Arctic Circle Axin, a Miao native, comes from a family of well-known embroiderers. His grandmother and mother are both famous in their region for their embroidery skills. Growing up immersed in this culture, Axin became a fashion designer. After graduating from university, he combined traditional Miao embroidery techniques with modern fashion and founded the Chinese style brand “Gu A Xin” in Xi’an. Starting with a small 9-square-meter store on Huimin Street, over the years, he expanded his business with stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chengdu, gaining significant recognition. Earlier this year, Axin and his mother visited countries like Belgium, Germany, Hungary, and France for trade visits and cultural exchanges, even holding fashion shows in front of famous landmarks in traditional Miao attire, attracting much attention from foreign onlookers.
After returning to China, Axin and his mother hosted a fashion show in Kaili, inviting professional models and local villagers to wear clothes featuring Miao elements in a village setting. Axin named the event “Guizhou Village T.” To their surprise, the show was a huge success, continuing for more than two months. Axin received many official invitations, and even foreign tourists came to participate.
Over the past few days, Axin has been incredibly busy. After attending London Fashion Week with his mother, they traveled to Rovaniemi in Finland for a Sino-Finnish cultural exchange event. Located within the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi boasts unique polar landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Invited by the city’s mayor, Axin brought Miao embroidery to showcase in the region. “We brought over 10 meticulously crafted Miao outfits, visited the Arctic Center Museum, Santa Claus Village, and the Future School, and engaged in cultural exchanges with locals,” Axin shared. He and his mother stayed in Finland for five days, with packed schedules every day. “The locals were fascinated by our Miao clothes. Everywhere we went, people asked how such beautiful garments were made!” This trip to Finland was an enriching experience for Axin, who also witnessed the Northern Lights. “We’ve brought ‘Guizhou Village T’ to the world, and witnessing the Miao embroidery meet the auroras was truly special!” They even recorded a video in the Arctic Circle to wish China a happy birthday!
“Space Miao Embroidery Suit” Debuts After 262 Days of Refinement Before going to Finland, Axin unveiled the mascot design for “Guizhou Village T,” a “Space Miao Embroidery Suit,” which took 262 days of refinement to make its runway debut. Axin humorously remarked, “We’ve taken Miao embroidery to many international stages, and hopefully one day, we’ll embroider it on spacesuits and send it to space. Dreams are worth having—maybe one day it will come true on the moon!”
Exciting Events During the National Day Holiday On September 30, Axin returned to Kaili, Guizhou, after his Sino-Finnish cultural exchange, diving straight into preparations for the National Day themed events of “Guizhou Village T.” The event will run for seven consecutive days at the Miao Dong Ethnic Cultural Park in Kaili, with a 50-meter-long corridor full of lively fashion shows, each day with a different theme. For instance, October 4 will feature the first “Village T Kid Model Contest,” October 5 will highlight the “Search for the Most Beautiful Village Flower,” and October 6 will showcase the “Most Beautiful Silver-Haired Models.” Many villages and enterprises have enthusiastically registered to participate. Axin told Yangtze Evening News that each show is uniquely designed, and the number of tourists visiting Kaili has significantly increased compared to previous years. Visitors are captivated by the stunning fashion and cultural performances.
On October 3, Kaili will also host a star-studded concert featuring singers like Jeff Chang, GiGi Gyixixi, and Lil Ghost (Wang Linkai). The “Village T” will take the stage during the event, offering the audience a spectacular performance. The fusion of Guizhou’s intangible heritage with pop music promises to deliver a one-of-a-kind visual and auditory feast.
Axin shared that the first season of “Guizhou Village T” is planned to conclude on October 7 with a grand award ceremony, marking the end of more than two months of festivities. However, “Village T” won’t be ending there—they are already planning the second season. “After a short break, we will launch an upgraded version of ‘Village T,’ with more innovative formats such as food events and even matchmaking sections like ‘Village T’ versions of If You Are the One. You can look forward to the surprises coming in the second season!”
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