Quanzhou and the Maritime Silk Road Spring/Summer 2025

The heritage of Quanzhou and the Maritime Silk Road closed the 2nd edition of China-France Culture and Fashion Festival.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. On this historic occasion, the second edition of China-France Fashion Week was held from September 27 to October 3, 2024, at the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris. This event aimed to deepen cultural and artistic cooperation between the two countries, promoting the integration of fashion, technological innovation, and design, and fostering dynamic exchanges between traditional and future industries.

A highlight of the event was the closing show featuring Quanzhou, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, showcasing its rich historical heritage and modern fashion fusion through the “Song-Yuan China, Maritime Quanzhou” theme.

Thirty exquisite outfits, blending traditional and modern elements, depicted Quanzhou’s World Heritage and cultural legacy. This event fostered cultural exchange between Quanzhou and Paris, symbolizing a flourishing friendship that dates back centuries.

The fashion week brought together the most iconic fashion brands from both countries, focusing on key topics such as cultural heritage, innovation in technological fabrics, and the exchange of cutting-edge design concepts. With a diverse range of runway shows, roundtable discussions, captivating exhibitions, and interactive workshops, the event comprehensively showcased the remarkable development and achievements of China’s fashion and apparel industry in recent years. It aimed to promote exchanges and foster connections between designers and artists, establishing an international platform for collaboration in fashion and the arts.

Among the highlights was a special exhibition, “Éclat de Dunhuang,” a joint effort between the Chinese Cultural Center and the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University. This exhibition blended the profound heritage of Dunhuang art with contemporary design aesthetics, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese culture. The “Between Tradition and Chinese Fashion” exhibition, curated by the China National Garment Association, spotlighted the innovation of Chinese fashion designers on the international stage. Additionally, the “L’Habit de Zhou” and the “La Route de la Soie de Quanzhou” explored the integration of traditional culture and modern fashion, drawing on the distinctive regional features of Shaanxi and Fujian’s Quanzhou.

This year’s fashion week particularly featured the latest bridal couture collection from Chinese high-end brand LOOYAII, and LA KORADIOR made its third appearance in Paris. Furthermore, D.MARTINAQUEEN, the official designer for the Chinese Olympic Team, showcased the extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship of Chinese designers. French avant-garde designer THEUNISSEN also presented her Spring/Summer 2025 Collection.

All images courtesy of China-France Fashion Week.