Workshop group photo

The fifth “ICH as Fashion” programme workshop “Tech-Enabled Translation and Systems Innovation for ICH” was held at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT).

The workshop was co-organized by UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, the International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the auspices of UNESCO (ICCSD), and BIFT, with the support from the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, and the Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Center. A total of 50 ICH bearers, fashion students, and emerging designers participated in the workshop.

Marking a critical phase in the 2-year programme’s progression, the workshop focused on advancing participants’ projects from design development toward technological integration and system-level innovation. Building on previous four workshops, it introduced new approaches to product refinement, digital tools, and industry-oriented thinking, while reinforcing the ethical dimensions of safeguarding and cultural attribution.

Opening Remarks

Prof. Khan delivering opening remarks

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, highlighted the programme evolving direction in his opening speech, “Creative work rooted in ICH is not only conceptually strong, but also professionally viable and ready to engage with real-world contexts”.

Li Shouyong delivering opening remarks

Li Shouyong, Director of Cultural, Science, and Technology Education of the Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Center underscored that education as the foundation, technology as the enabler, and talent as the driving force constitute the key pathways for the safeguarding and sustainable development of ICH.

Huang Keying delivering welcoming remarks

Huang Keying from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology echoed that ICH is the world’s shared treasure, while fashion is a contemporary expression of culture. The spirit of traditional aesthetics needs to be re-energized through contemporary design thinking.

Workshop Highlights

A defining strength of the workshop was its interdisciplinary teaching faculty, which brought together expertise across cultural heritage, design, technology, and industry.

Among the facilitators, Prof. Ding Zhaochen from BIFT played a central role in guiding participants through digital fashion systems, AI-assisted design, and emerging virtual environments. His preparatory engagement with participant teams prior to the workshop enabled a more tailored, project-oriented learning experience, while his sessions during the workshop helped bridge conceptual design with practical technological application.

Prof. Ding also introduced the “lightning course” component, focusing on practical, lightweight topics such as AI-generated music videos, digital humans, traffic and audience engagement strategies, and IP development, which were widely welcomed and actively participated in by the participants.

Prof. Ding Zhaochen

The broader faculty included leading academics and industry experts who contributed to cultural interpretation, computational design, innovative transformation, and market-oriented thinking.

Additional contributions from industry professionals, scholars and international experts—including UNESCO facilitator Kean Kim Joseph Lo, Prof. Li Yingjun from Tsinghua University, Director Yang Ming from Future Media Convergence Institute of Xinhua Net, Prof. Liu Kaixuan from Xi’An Polytechnic University, Prof. Park Jisun from Sangmyung University, and Prof.Jiang Xi from BIFT —further strengthened the workshop’s policy and sustainability dimensions, linking creative practice with the principles of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Kean Kim Joseph Lo

Prof. Li Yingjun

Yang Ming

Prof. Liu Kaixuan

Prof. Park Jisun

Prof. Jiang Xi

The workshop combined lectures, technical sessions, and field visits to the BIFT Ethnic Costumes Museum and the Beijing 798 Art Zone. These experiences allowed participants to engage directly with both heritage collections and contemporary creative spaces, reinforcing the relevance of traditional craftsmanship within modern design ecosystems.

Field visit

Participants noted that exposure to diverse ICH practices deepened their understanding of cultural ingenuity and strengthened their commitment to integrating traditional techniques with contemporary design approaches. The workshop also emphasized the use of digital tools and systems thinking, equipping participants with practical skills to navigate evolving creative industries.

Discussion with facilitator 

Workshop Closing & Outlook

As a pivotal stage in the ICH as Fashion programme, the workshop demonstrated how living heritage can move beyond preservation into active participation within the creative economy. By bridging cultural knowledge, technological innovation, and industry frameworks, it reaffirmed the programme’s role as a platform for sustainable, ethical, and forward-looking development of ICH-based fashion.

Workshop closing

Following the workshop, participants in the ICH as Fashion programme will continue developing their collections, culminating in exhibition and showcase opportunities planned for late 2026 and early 2027.