Miao embroidery makes Milan Fashion Week debut

Filled with immense pride for her heritage, Wang's pieces feature distinctive seals embroidered on the chest, back, and sleeves in a nod to her branch of the Miao ethnic group, the Siyin Miao. "Siyin" in Chinese means four seals.

According to legend, the ancestors of the Siyin Miao people held the seals for the king, but they were separated by war. They embroidered the seals on their clothes as an identifying signal to each other. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation and has evolved into the decorations on clothes.

"The girls in the family would embroider a four-seal dress when they were young. The first time they wore the dress was when they got married, and the last time was when they were buried," said Wang, underscoring that the dress was only for the most important festivals and occasions.

Shi Chuanying, 45, another Miao embroiderer from Taijiang county in Guizhou, also spent the last seven days in a fashion-week high. But, while Wang followed the event from China, Shi had a front-row seat.