On April 20, 2026, the Workshop 5 · ICH as Fashion Tech-Enabled Translation and Systems Innovation for ICH, organized by UNESCO, officially opened in Beijing. The workshop is hosted by UNESCO's Regional Office for East Asia, and co-organized by the International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) and Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology.
Distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony included Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO's Regional Office for East Asia; Huang Keying, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology; Li Shouyong, Director of the Department of Cultural Technology and Science Popularization at the Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Center; and Ma Jun, Director of the Publicity and Culture Center of Chaoyang District, Beijing. More than 50 participants—including ICH practitioners, fashion professionals, and faculty and students from universities across multiple countries—gathered to explore innovative pathways for integrating ICH with technology and fashion.
A group photo of guests and participants
In his remarks, Shahbaz Khan noted that the workshop marks a transition in ICH safeguarding—from conceptual exploration and prototype development to a critical stage of system-level integration. He highlighted the practical significance of this phase, which introduces methodologies such as product optimization, systems thinking, and digital tools to help participants navigate the complexities of contemporary creative industries. He encouraged participants to seize this opportunity to learn, innovate, and transform ICH into outcomes of contemporary relevance and creative value.
Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO's Regional Office for East Asia, delivers a speech
Li Shouyong emphasized that Beijing is actively advancing its development as an international center for science and technology innovation, with leading strengths in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, digital modeling, and large-model applications. He underscored that education, technological empowerment, and talent support are key pathways for the inheritance and sustainable development of ICH. Beijing stands ready to share technological resources with international partners, deepen cooperation, and expand opportunities to promote the integrated development of culture and technology.
Li Shouyong, Director of the Department of Cultural Technology and Science Popularization at the Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Center, delivers a speech
Huang Keying stressed that ICH represents the essence of human civilization, while fashion serves as its contemporary expression. She noted that the spirit of Eastern aesthetics should be revitalized through modern design thinking. She expressed hope that the workshop would inspire talent cultivation at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and encourage more emerging designers to engage with ICH. She also envisioned building an international platform for ICH exchange, fostering the integration of Eastern and Western craftsmanship and aesthetics, and nurturing world-class design talent.
Huang Keying, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
Following the opening ceremony, guests and participants visited the Ethnic Costume Museum of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. The rich collection of traditional garments and craftsmanship offered participants an immersive experience of China's profound ICH heritage. Participants noted that the wisdom and creativity embodied in ethnic attire were deeply inspiring and strengthened their commitment to integrating traditional textile techniques with modern design and advancing industrial development.
Guests and trainees visit the Ethnic Costume Museum of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology together
After the visit, the workshop training sessions officially began. Jiang Xi, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, delivered a lecture on "Gift Design Thinking from Eastern and Western Perspectives," sharing methodologies and insights into the construction of Eastern aesthetics. Shi Zhenhong, Managing Director of Red Dot Design Award China, presented benchmark cases in design and sustainability under the same theme. Professor Ding Zhaochen focused on "Global Branding and International Design Trends," elaborating on design innovation driven by the integration of digital fashion and AI technologies.
Professor Jiang Xi from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
Shi Zhenhong, Managing Director of Red Dot Design Award China
Professor Ding Zhaochen from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
The "ICH as Fashion" workshop is part of a two-year capacity-building program jointly launched by UNESCO's Regional Office for East Asia and partners in the cultural heritage and fashion sectors. Phase V (2025–2026) targets ICH practitioners, fashion students, and emerging designers in East Asia. Through theoretical training, hands-on practice, and thematic discussions, the program explores new pathways for integrating ICH into contemporary fashion and promoting sustainable development in the fashion industry. Aligned with the principles of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the workshop aims to revitalize traditional knowledge systems and foster inclusive creative industries. The initiative also addresses urgent challenges facing traditional crafts in East Asia—such as weaving, embroidery, and dyeing—which are at risk of decline amid modernization and disruptions in intergenerational transmission.
