On the evening of May 8, the Starlight Gala of the 2026 China International Fashion Week Nanjing Session and the Four Great Brocades Grand Night themed Weaving Dreams for China, Shining Jianye with Brocades were rounded off at Nanjing Fishmouth Wetland Park. The event brought together Yunjin, Songjin, Shujin, and Zhuangjin—four legendary forms of Chinese brocade craftsmanship representing the pinnacle of traditional weaving artistry. Though world-renown, they had never made a collective debut on the same stage before. Now their joint appearance in Nanjing marked a monumental finale to the month-long national fashion extravaganza, showcasing the contemporary vitality of Oriental aesthetics.
Several honors were unveiled at the gala. Renowned designer Zhang Zhaoda was awarded the title of Industry Influential Figure in recognition of his decades-long dedication to fashion design and his outstanding contribution to the revitalization of intangible cultural heritage. His runway show The Quartet of Brocade, created in collaboration with MARK FAIRWHALE, drew inspiration from the Four Great Brocades and incorporated their distinctive textile elements into contemporary streetwear, blending tradition with modern fashion.
Four inheritors, including Chen Cheng, were honored with the title of Outstanding Role Models in Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion Inheritance for their dedication to preserving these ancient crafts. Nanjing Yunjin Museum was honored as the Benchmark Organization for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion, while several other institutions were granted the Medal of Joint Contribution to Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion. Nanjing Mochou Lake Primary School was named a Pioneer Model for Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion Inheritance. The Peking Opera classic Mu Guiying Takes Command performed by pupils from the school highlighted a promising future of cultural heritage preservation through younger generations.
Taoyumei, a local brand rooted in Nanjing for three decades, unveiled its 30th-anniversary Mountains and Seas collection. The brand founder Tao Yumei and the next-generation creative director Yang Taoran appeared together on stage, combining Suzhou embroidery with modern tailoring to symbolize the continuation of the brand’s legacy.
More than a fashion gathering, the gala marked the city’s profound embrace of the fashion industry. From the construction of the new Nanjing Yunjin Museum venue to the riverside runway at Fishmouth Wetland Park, and from the invitation of intangible cultural heritage inheritors to the first-ever showcase of the Four Great Brocades, Jianye District is using fashion as a stepping stone for weaving traditional heritage into the fabric of everyday life and connecting the city’s landmarks with cultural and creative industries.
