After three years of accumulation, emerging Chinese designer Chen Anqi embarked on a journey to various locales in search of vanishing handicrafts, dedicating herself to integrating traditional crafts and culture into her designs.

This season, Angel Chen, the fashion brand launched by Chen Anqi, collaborated with Chinese tea brand Chagee to present a fashion show interpreting Eastern aesthetics on Tuesday at the Xintiandi in Shanghai, as part of the ongoing Shanghai Fashion Week.

Drawing inspiration from Chagee's classic red and blue colors, Chen also incorporated the iconic "C" logo of the tea brand into enamel and embroidery styles, showcased the design in the form of a crossbody bag.

"Chagee has been making attempts and efforts to integrate China's traditional culture and tea culture with modern fashion. In the future, as we have many overseas development plans, there will be more to present to the world,"said Li Yifan, senior director of public affairs at Chagee.

"There is a spiritual collision between us, our recognition and love for traditional culture, and our shared desire to bring it to the world, modernize it and make it beloved by more people, are completely aligned," said Chen.

In May 2021, Chen visited an ancient village nestled among the mountains in Zhenni county, Guizhou province. The team discovered a technique called "Bu Zhi Bu" which originated from the thrift and wisdom of the older generation of women - tearing old clothes into strips and reweaving them into a piece of fabric using a loom, making each piece of fabric unique.

To Angel Chen, "Bu Zhi Bu" is not merely a material in this season's designs, it embodies the sustainable concept rooted in Chinese tradition.

To achieve mass production of the "Bu Zhi Bu" fabric, the team mobilized the women from the entire village to work together. After four months of efforts, they successfully produced over a thousand meters of the fabric.

Chen also collaborated with textile groups to develop functional denim fabrics and camel wool yarn. These two innovative fabrics not only preserve the texture of traditional materials but also enhance their functionality through modern technology, expanding their application in fashion design.

In addition, Chen has also innovated traditional indigo dyeing techniques. Traditionally, indigo dyeing was limited to producing blue hues, but through collaborative innovation with Chen's team, the dyeing process can now create vibrant multicolored patterns using solely natural plant dyes. This innovation not only preserves the foundation of Chinese textile culture but also enhances the modern practicality of traditional techniques.

"I believe that China is a magnificent fusion of diverse cultures. In my eyes, the new Chinese style embodies the beauty of the nation and the world. It represents beauty in sharing, with a variety of possibilities," expressed Chen.