Students from 13 universities in China and abroad gather in Nanxun district, Huzhou, to collaborate on designs inspired by local intangible cultural heritage. [Photo/WeChat account: nxfbwx]

Students from 13 universities in China and abroad have gathered in Nanxun district, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, to collaborate on designs inspired by local intangible cultural heritage, bringing traditional crafts to a global audience.

The Shanghai International Summer School Fashion Intangible Cultural Heritage Nanxun Youth Training Camp recently brought 26 students from 12 overseas universities, including the University of Edinburgh, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, along with eight undergraduate and postgraduate students from Donghua University, to Nanxun.

During the five-day program, participants visited Digang ancient village, Shuanglin ancient town, and the Huzhou Writing Brush Culture Museum to experience local traditional crafts, including Jili silk, Shuanglin silk damask, Shanlian writing brushes, Nanxun pastries, and paper-cutting.

One of the works created by the students. [Photo/WeChat account: nxfbwx]

Using design as a bridge for cross-cultural exchange, the students created cultural products that combine traditional Chinese aesthetics with international design perspectives.

Breanna Lily Cassidy, a student from Otago Polytechnic University in New Zealand, said she was deeply impressed by Nanxun's silk culture after visiting local silk exhibition halls and the Jili Silk Museum.

Her team's design drew inspiration from traditional silk-reeling techniques, using the continuous movement of silk threads as a metaphor for the connections between people.