Collection featuring Miao ethnic designs wows Fiji Fashion Week

A fashion collection featuring elements from costumes worn by China's Miao ethnic group stunned audiences on the closing night of Fiji Fashion Week on Saturday. The event drew some of the world's most talented designers and models to the South Pacific archipelago state.

"The show has been amazing, unbelievable," said one audience member amid the thunderous applause for the models showcasing the range.

"We love the wonderful Miao elements, with their bright colors, beautiful embroidery and motifs," two middle-aged women said. A Fijian girl aged 15 was quick to agree. "I like these clothes. They are really beautiful and special."

While the Miao-inspired collection has drawn wide-ranging praise, the reception the range received in Fiji was unrivaled - even the photographers were impressed by it as they took shots of the models in their unique costumes.

Resort wear was the theme of the two-day Fiji Fashion Week, which was held at the FMF Gymnasium in the country's capital, Suva.

And the specially-decorated performance hall was packed out with fashion lovers, designers and models from Fiji and other countries including China, India, Vietnam and Australia.

The 12-piece collection was designed by Chen Bin, a professor at the fashion institute of the Shanghai-based Donghua University, along with several of his students.

He was not surprised by the positive feedback from the audience because he believes the range has a unique quality, thanks to its design which incorporated typical elements of Miao costume.

"This is the first time we have taken part in Fiji Fashion Week and it's been a success. I think the foreign models have enjoyed wearing our Miao-inspired collection. This is a place where fashion meets tradition, and East and West also meet and mingle harmoniously," Chen said proudly.

In his eyes, Miao costumes are like history books that are worn by people, and is one of the rare and beautiful treasures of Chinese history and culture.

"It's not only about beautiful clothes, but also about China's long history and culture," he said.

"There are 56 ethnic groups in China, and the costumes of the Miao ethnic group in southern China are an important component of Chinese history. As designers, we should also be prepared to go out and showcase our fashion design and learn from our foreign peers," he said.

Yang Hui, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of the South Pacific, said she was glad that Chen's team could be involved in the fashion show.

"I am happy for their success and I am glad that the Confucius Institute could assist Chen's team's participation in the fashion show. We would like to be a bridge for language and culture and help boost cultural exchanges between China and the South Pacific Island states," she said.

This was the 11th annual Fiji Fashion Week, which is the biggest fashion show held in the South Pacific Island states.