A video of Guizhou Miao designer Gu A Xin searching for his mother went viral.
Backstage at the 2024 Autumn/Winter China Fashion Week, Gu A Xin, the designer of the Gu A Xin brand, led his team while waiting to present their fashion show “Breakthrough,” only to realize his mother was still in Guizhou. He hurried back to his hometown of Wanshui Town, Kaili City.
Upon arriving, he saw clear mountain springs flowing through the layered mountains and reached the tranquil village of Shuangyuan. His mother, dressed in traditional Miao attire, was sitting under an ancient wooden structure, skillfully embroidering as if she had been born to do it.
Gu A Xin and his mother, carrying a basket, ran past iconic Guizhou landmarks like the Wind and Rain Bridge, Baihua Lake, and Huangguoshu Waterfall, eventually reaching the Fashion Week venue in Beijing.
As a rooster crowed, a spotlight revealed a dazzling circular area where Gu A Xin’s 60-year-old mother sat in the center, telling her granddaughter the story of a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. In the background of ancient Miao songs, models dressed in her handcrafted embroidery burst out of a giant cocoon, creating a visual feast of transformation.
On WeChat’s short video platform, the video received over 60,000 likes and more than 10,000 shares. Viewers praised the creativity and thoughtful execution, while also giving thumbs up to Guizhou’s Miao embroidery and scenery.
From hometown to the capital, the journey showcased Guizhou’s beautiful landscapes and unique ethnic customs. The story of Miao embroidery transitioning from a small village to the international stage was told through the persistence and dreams of Gu A Xin, his mother, and the embroiderers.
Gu A Xin explained in the video, “For this stage, my mother has supported me for 17 years.” At the Fashion Week’s “Starlight Night,” the Gu A Xin brand won the “Heritage Innovation” award, and Gu A Xin brought his mother on stage to receive the award, symbolizing a collective achievement of their people.
