Bridging Mountains and Seas—A China-Spain Fashion Dialogue Unfolds in Madrid

　　Transcontinental Fashion Dialogue Unfolds in Madrid

　　As the symbolic blossoms of Quanzhou’s kapok trees met the olive branches of Madrid, a high-level transcontinental fashion exchange blossomed on the Iberian Peninsula. Held on April 8, the event united iconic Chinese brands—ANTA, Septwolves, Erke, Peak, Cabbeen, Kelme, Bama Tea, and Tianshu Group—with Spanish designers, artists, educators, and fashion media to exchange ideas and forge meaningful connections.

　　This event also served as a global prelude to the inaugural Quanzhou Fashion Week, deepening ties between two culturally rich cities and positioning Quanzhou as a rising nexus of tradition and innovation under the banner: World Heritage Quanzhou, Fashion City of the East.

　　Fashion as a Bridge Between Civilisations

　　The programme opened with a cinematic tribute to Why Quanzhou, followed by a cultural presentation from Wang Wenli, Chairman of Bama Tea, who illuminated the intangible charm of Tieguanyin tea. Attendees experienced an immersive exhibition highlighting Quanzhou’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, offering fresh perspectives on the city’s millennia-old legacy along the Maritime Silk Routes.

　　Quanzhou—once the largest eastern port during the Song-Yuan dynasties and today a powerhouse of consumer goods and brand innovation—is reinventing its global identity. A key milestone during the event was the official launch of the Quanzhou Fashion Industry Alliance’s European and Paris Communication Centres, symbolising a fusion of Chinese creativity and European design excellence.

　　Strategic partnerships formed during the dialogue underscored this collaborative momentum:

　　Cabbeen signed an agreement with a Spanish services firm to introduce modernised Chinese aesthetics to the European market.

　　The Fashion Industry Alliance formalised an MoU with Spanish counterparts focusing on technology, talent exchange, and market expansion.

　　The Quanzhou Federation of Industry and Commerce strengthened ties with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Spain.

　　These partnerships signal not only commercial cooperation but also a shared recognition of fashion as a powerful medium of cultural communication.

　　As a representative of Quanzhou remarked, the city is drawing upon the “Jinjiang Experience” to contribute meaningfully to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative—integrating heritage with forward-looking industry. In response, Madrid City Council President Borja noted:

　　“When the entrepreneurial drive of Quanzhou meets the fearless spirit of the Spanish matador, fashion becomes a golden bridge between civilisations.”

　　Co-Creating Sustainable Futures Through Fashion

　　The event was punctuated by resonant insights from leading industry voices:

　　ANTA CEO Lai Shixian introduced their “Nitrogen Technology” running shoes, describing the blend of Chinese sports innovation with Spanish design as “dual paddles of the Silk Road,” steering Quanzhou craftsmanship toward a global audience.

　　Madrid Chamber of Commerce President Schleisser called for pairing Southern European creativity with Eastern production strength—likening it to a “fashion typhoon.”

　　Peak Sports GM Xu Zhihua poetically connected Minnan heritage music with flamenco rhythms, advocating sportswear diplomacy through designs inspired by both architectural traditions.

　　Cabbeen founder and designer Yang Ziming envisioned a “New Chinese Style” on the world stage—pairing Hanfu’s wide sleeves with Mediterranean sunlight, and Quanzhou’s red-brick elegance with the moonlit charm of Toledo.

　　Spanish participants offered equally compelling views:

　　Cebrián, a leader in sustainable fashion, reflected on the parallels between Quanzhou’s maritime tea routes and Spain’s organic cotton heritage—a “green promise” to future generations.

　　Designer Gutierrez unveiled a metaverse embroidery concept blending Gaudí’s architectural curves with Jin Cang embroidery, reimagining intangible heritage through digital couture.

　　From innovation to cultural resonance, fast fashion efficiency to slow fashion values, the dialogue affirmed sustainability as a shared aspiration bridging creative traditions.

　　Zhou Shaoxiong, Chairman of Septwolves and head of the Fashion Industry Alliance, summarised this vision:

　　"From exporting products to exporting aesthetics, our mission is to let Eastern beauty become a defining voice in global fashion."

　　A New Fashion Geography Emerging from the Maritime Silk Routes

　　The event concluded with a symbolic visual narrative: a digital tapestry featuring Quanzhou’s East and West Pagodas set in motion with Madrid’s Puerta de Alcalá—stitched onto virtual leather and silk, representing resilience and cultural synergy.

　　The message was unmistakable: fashion is more than an industry—it is a cultural compass pointing toward shared futures. As Quanzhou prepares to host its first Fashion Week on April 17, global attention turns eastward to an ancient port city once again at the frontier of global connection—through trade, heritage, and creative expression.

　　In the spirit of the Belt and Road, this “two-city” dialogue marks the genesis of a new global fashion community—anchored in tradition, propelled by innovation, and united by a sustainable vision of cultural exchange.