REVIVING CRAFT, MUSEE DES ARTS DECORATIFS - PARIS, FRANCE

Creative direction by Eugène Riconneaus

Chinese fashion brand BOSIDENG celebrated long-lasting Chinese and French cultural exchanges in Paris – as well as the countdown to the 2024 Olympics – with a show at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on July 8 that blended Chinese design expertise both old and new.

Sun Media Group co-founder Yang Lan and French actress Sophie Marceau were among multiple VIPs at the show, a highlight event to mark the museum’s exhibition, Reviving Craft – Applied Arts and Contemporary Design from China(July 5–19).

The BOSIDENG capsule collection of 30 looks, titled Fusion, was conceived and designed by Zhu Lin, chief designer of BOSIDENG, with French artist Eugène Riconneaus. It blended ancient and modern in a collection that combined the company’s expertise in down jackets with silk jacquards.

An installation artwork by Eugène Riconneaus, Crimson and Indigo: A Dialogue Across Eras (2024), was also featured in the exhibition. This light installation, inspired by the natural pigment hues of crimson and indigo, projected shifting patterns of color and light. The piece evoked a dialogue between tradition and modernity, creating an immersive visual experience that underscored the themes of cultural exchange and sustainability.

The richness of historic Chinese craftsmanship, including the celebrated embroideries of Suzhou, was counterbalanced by the innovative contemporary expertise of BOSIDENG. In an acknowledgment of the need for responsible sustainable approaches to design, the collection featured mulberry silk and used traditional vegetable dyes.

French and Chinese cultural connections date back centuries. Chinese Qing dynasty emperor Kangxi (1654–1722) exchanged gifts with Louis XIV (1638–1715), the two rulers famously displaying great interest in each other’s cultures. And the year 2024 is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The Reviving Craft exhibition brought together more than 100 exhibits from 40 artists and designers and more than 20 brands and institutions. The exhibition was divided into five sections, titled Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, with BOSIDENG contributing to the Earth section, reflecting the themes developed in its fashion show.

Works selected highlighted Chinese intangible cultural heritage in everything from clothing to woodwork, ceramics, and tea-making. Contemporary Chinese designers making an impact internationally were also in the spotlight.

The exhibition was jointly organized by Sun Media Group and China National Brand Network.

Installation view with Eugène Riconneaus, Artwork light installation - Crimson and Indigo: A Dialogue Across Eras (2024)