The “Craftsmanship Memory: Nantong Blue-printed Calico Exhibition” kicked off at the Shanghai Textile and Costume Museum of DHU in Shanghai on the morning of December 13, jointly organized by the Shanghai Textile and Costume Museum, Nantong Blue Calico Museum and the Blue Calico Art Research Institute of Nantong University. The exhibition is divided into four sections: memory, craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation. It showcases over 100 pieces collected and designed by the Nantong Blue Calico Museum and its curator Wu Yuanxin. The exhibition will run until Jan 13, 2025, and is open to the public free of charge.
At the opening ceremony, Cui Yunhua presented a donation certificate to Wu Yuanxin in recognition of his contribution of innovative blue-printed calico works to the museum. A book series titled Skills of Handicraft Printing and Dyeing was also unveiled. Published by DHU Press, the series consists of five volumes: Blue-printed Calico, Clamp-Resist Dyeing Skills, Tie-Dyeing Skills, Batik Dyeing Skills, and Colored Calico Printing. It has been approved as a ministerial level textbook under the 14th Five-Year Plan for the field of textiles and apparel by the China Textile and Apparel Education Association and has received funding support from Shanghai’s Cultural and Creative Industry Development Program.
During the event, students from the College of Fashion and Design at DHU presented blue calico cloth-made apparel and handicrafts, while the interactive area at the exhibition demonstrated processes such as pattern engraving, resist dyeing paste application, and dyeing, which brought the heritage of blue calico to life. These activities highlighted its unique “harmonious blend of blue and white adorned with simple yet elegant floral patterns”, showcasing the cultural depth of this traditional craft, its timeless charm, and its vibrant modern vitality. In the afternoon, the Forum on Inheritance and Innovation in Chinese Textile and Fashion Culture was held, where participants explored ways to preserve and adapt textile and fashion traditions in a contemporary context.
“We strive to integrate the protection, collection, and revitalization of this intangible cultural heritage item into the campus life of DHU, making greater contributions to the inheritance and innovation of Chinese textile and costume culture”, said Bian Xiangyang, chief curator and director of the Shanghai Textile and Costume Museum of DHU. In recent years, the museum has been dedicated to promoting China’s textile heritage, hosting notable exhibitions such as “History and Innovation: Chinese Textile and Clothing Intangible Culture Heritage”, “The Collection of Ethnic Costume in Southern China Exhibition”, and “China-Style Fashion Design Exhibition.”
The traditional dyeing and printing techniques of blue calico cloth were included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists in 2006. In 2013, Nantong blue calico cloth was approved as a national geographical indication product.
