From the modern transformation of bamboo weaving techniques to the international expression of tea ceremony aesthetics... On the 20th anniversary of the ‘Two Mountains’ philosophy, over 20 international faculty and students from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries joined more than 30 Chinese and international faculty and students from Donghua university's Shanghai International Fashion and Creative Institute and College of Humanities. Together, they formed a summer practice team that traveled to Anji, Zhejiang Province, to launch the Eco-Fashion Global Partners Workshop. Through field research, cultural immersion, and creative design, they empowered ecological civilization construction with sustainable fashion, exploring Chinese solutions for sustainable design within a global perspective.
Artistic Collaboration Tracing the Origins of ‘Two Mountains’
In Yucun Village, Anji, Chinese and international teachers and students visited the tourist service center, the Two Mountains monument, and the Future Village exhibition hall. They immersed themselves in learning about the vivid practices of transforming ecological advantages into development momentum, embarking on a deep exploration of the integration between the ‘Two Mountains’ concept and artistic innovation. At the workshop of Zhejiang Fenghui Bamboo and Wood Products Co., Ltd., students paused to observe the production of bamboo-woven lamps. From splitting bamboo fibers and weaving them into shape to assembling the final lamps, each step showcased the ingenuity of ‘replacing plastic with bamboo.’
(practice team conducts research at bamboo product processing enterprises)
(bamboo weaving pieces created by teams of Chinese and international students)
Based on thorough preliminary research, Chinese and international students at the workshop used collaborative art to share China's ecological stories with the world. “Our team's design draws inspiration from Mencius' philosophy of ‘mutual friendship and mutual assistance,’” explained Zhan Yawen, a 2024 undergraduate at Shanghai International Fashion and Creative Institute. “The interwoven structure of bamboo poles and threads creates visual connections, symbolizing the bonds of global cooperation.” During the ten-day workshop, the practice team designed bamboo-woven lamps centered on the “Two Mountains” philosophy and the “Bamboo Instead of Plastic” initiative.
Young people from China and abroad jointly build a bridge for civilizational dialogue
At Anji White Tea Group, young people from China and abroad engage in distinctive tea culture experiences guided by the aroma of tea. Under the guidance of professional tea masters, students from both countries learn tea ceremony etiquette through immersive practice, pouring and savoring tea.
(international students are experiencing Tea Ceremony)
(Chinese and international students experience intangible cultural heritage)
Stepping into the ‘Bamboo Impressions Museum,’ bamboo crafts and bamboo carvings narrate millennia of bamboo culture through light and shadow. Intangible cultural heritage inheritor Zhu Hechun deftly manipulates bamboo strips with his nimble fingers, demonstrating traditional weaving techniques in a live performance that feels like a cultural dialogue across time. Chinese and international students, holding bamboo strips in hand, experience the craftsmanship and warmth of China's intangible cultural heritage firsthand through hands-on practice involving threading, weaving, wrapping, and pasting.
‘Opening art studios in the fields,’ ‘building pet parks in the countryside...’ As dusk fell, the evening discussions in Yucun were in full swing. Young people from China and abroad gathered together, freely exchanging ideas about the future development of Yucun in Anji. Charlotte from Singapore remarked with emotion: “Anji has perfectly integrated ecological conservation with cultural heritage. These experiences serve as vivid examples for telling China's story to the world.” “We must not only use our expertise to inject innovative vitality into traditional industries, but also fulfill the mission and responsibility of the younger generation through concrete actions,” remarked Zeng Runlin, a member of the practice team.
A Single Leaf Witnesses the Rural Revitalization Landscape
Amidst the verdant hills of Huangdu Village, young people from China and abroad embarked on a journey to explore rural revitalization. Sheng Awei, a nationally recognized outstanding Communist Party member and Party branch secretary of Huangdu Village, recounted the arduous journey of building the white tea industry from scratch, guiding teachers and students through the Anji white tea gardens. Students touched the fresh buds with their own hands, listened to insights on scientific management and ecological cultivation in tea gardens, and witnessed the vivid reality of ‘a single leaf enriching the local people.’ “This is not merely agricultural development; it's the wisdom of transforming ecological resources into public welfare,” remarked Daria, a Belarusian student from the College of Humanities.
(The practice team is interviewing Sheng Awei)
In Maji Village, young people from China and abroad held a discussion with Xu Bin, Secretary of the Village Party Branch. Xu shared Maji Village's development plan to deepen the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism through innovative models such as revitalizing ancient residences, offering intangible cultural heritage experiences, and organizing rural study tours. During the exchange, students from both countries offered suggestions based on their own experiences with rural development in their home nations.
This session of the Eco-Fashion Global Partners Workshop, jointly organized by the Shanghai Fashion Association, Donghua university's Shanghai International Fashion and Creative Institute, and the College of Humanities, centers on the ‘Bamboo Instead of Plastic’ initiative. It will produce one in-depth research report, three micro-party lectures, one tea culture documentary, and five international student vlogs. Additionally, it will innovatively design eight sets of bamboo-woven lighting fixtures and white tea packaging solutions, leveraging youth energy to advance the international dissemination and practical implementation of ecological civilization concepts.
