Blooming Fold

Year: 2024

Dimensions: Variable

Materials: Specialty paper, Translucent film, Fiber-reinforced structure

Research Team: 
Xiang Yi, Chuan Ma, Weixi Kuang, Junpeng Liang, Yi Qian, Xinyu Wang, Bingjie Chen, Fangyuan Wang, Jiayue Tang, Ruoyun Tang, Ke Huang, Li Zhang

Acknowledgements: 
China Academy of Arts, Dragon TV Events Center, College of Fashion & Art Design, Donghua University
This collection, created for the 2024 WorldSkills Closing Ceremony in Lyon, showcases five sculptural garments inspired by the intangible cultural heritage of China—folding, pleating, and paper artistry—reconstructed through advanced material innovation and spatial algorithms.

Each look in the series functions as a dynamic system: algorithm-based Voronoi tessellations, light-reactive paper cuts, kinetic fan-like mechanisms, and modular origami compositions all contribute to garments that move, transform, and breathe with the wearer. These pieces reinterpret traditional symbols such as magnolias, butterflies, folding fans, and architectural joints, integrating them into contemporary silhouettes that challenge conventional garment construction.

In a global setting of exchange and cooperation, the collection reflects the core values of WorldSkills: craftsmanship, innovation, and the preservation of cultural knowledge through new generations of skill and imagination.

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Geometric Ballet




This piece centers on the aesthetic beauty of geometry, drawing inspiration from the mathematical principles of Voronoi tessella- tion. Using algorithmic precision, it calculates the edge lengths and centroid distances of triangular units, assembling them seamlessly to evoke a unique sense of spatial order.

The geometric modules are distributed according to the dynamic proportions of the human body, adapting to its movement and form. A distinctive interlocking system—remi- niscent of traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joints—is employed to construct a structure that flows and trans- forms. The work embodies a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Chinese aesthetics through an innovative spatial and structural approach to garment design.




Butterfly Waltz
This work consists of two sister garments inspired by the traditional Chinese art of paper-cutting. Crafted from specialty paper materials, the designs are intricately cut to form hollowed patterns and integrated with built-in lighting systems. Through the inter- play of light and shadow, the garments vividly reveal the national flowers of China and France—the magnolia and the iris.                  

As the models move, the garments flutter and shift like butterfly wings in motion, creating a dynamic visual narrative. The design not only symbolizes the deep cultural bond between China and France, but also embodies the enduring elegance and poetic beauty of their bilateral friend- ship—graceful, delicate, and ever-bloom- ing like flowers and butterflies.





Flourishing Bloom

Inspired by the exuberant beauty of spring in full blossom, this piece transforms a garden of flowers into a sculptural ensemble of paper-crafted florals, richly layered across both gown and headpiece. Each bloom is meticulously hand-formed using various types of paper, creating a vivid and voluminous display of natural vitality.

Structurally, the design breaks away from traditional crinoline and boning systems, introducing a unique silhouette with heightened visual impact. The skirt is supported by an inner framework densely covered in diverse paper flower forms, generating a lush, multi-dimensional composition. Beyond its celebration of natural beauty, the work symbolizes the flourishing exchange between cultures—where openness and mutual respect allow traditions to bloom in dynamic coexistence.





Folding Grace

This piece is inspired by the traditional Chinese folding fan, extracting the pleated textures of the fan surface and integrating them with a draping-based structure that balances spontaneity and sculptural presence. A fan-shaped mechanical structure—composed of bamboo ribs and paper surfaces—is embedded into the back of the garment and can be manually operated by the wearer to alter its form.

Crafted from high-performance composite materials, the design maintains a lightweight, delicate quality while achieving a richly layered, sculptural volume. Through the meticulous arrangement of folded elements—varying in length, width, and rhythm—the work reinterprets the folding fan in a contemporary, kinetic expression. It represents a bold experiment in reimagining traditional cultural motifs through modern design strategies.





Blossoms in Folded Paper
Inspired by the intangible cultural heritage craft of paper flower folding, this work draws from the symmetrical aesthetics of traditional Chinese culture and reimagines them through a bold, sculptural silhouette that bridges Eastern elegance with Western formalwear.                         

The headpiece is constructed using geometric principles of symmetrical and continuous folding, while the gown is composed of interlinked panels forming a layered, modular structure. This architectural design introduces a contemporary three-di- mensionality and kinetic visual rhythm. The soft,paper-like textures and muted tones convey a sense of quiet harmony and refined simplicity, embodying the poetic essence of traditional Chinese aesthetics in a modern design language.






47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France



Paper apparel showcased at the closing ceremony of the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, on Sept 15, 2024.




Paper apparel showcased at the closing ceremony of the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, on Sept 15, 2024.




Paper apparel showcased at the closing ceremony of the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, on Sept 15, 2024.



External Link：

https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/595688