The traditional works of Tujia brocades, Miao embroidery, and gambiered Guangdong gauze designed by Zhou Zhaohui, president of Hunan College of Art, amazed the audience in a recent fashion event held in Paris. The works integrate Hunan's intangible cultural heritage with contemporary aesthetics, exuding not only the elegance of Oriental formal attire but also the vivacity of modern design, demonstrating the contemporary vitality of Chinese traditional crafts to the world.

"Who would have thought Chinese traditional crafts could be this chic, providing a fresh wellspring of inspiration for Western haute couture," Zhou quoted an on-site French designer as saying. Earlier this year, Zhou's works were exhibited in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas when Zhou, a first-class stage designer, visited the three countries together with an exchange delegation from Central China's Hunan province.