During Milan Fashion Week, HUI Milano unveiled a deeply reflective Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection titled Her Threads, a runway presentation that transformed ancestral embroidery into a contemporary narrative of identity, resilience, and feminine legacy. Presented on March 1 at Via San Gregorio 29 in Milan, the collection introduced an evocative interpretation of Nü Gong—the traditional Chinese art of women’s embroidery—through the refined, globally minded lens of founder and creative director Huizhou Zhao.
Photo: Stefano Massé
For centuries, Nü Gong has existed as a quiet language within domestic spaces across China. Passed down through generations, the craft has historically allowed women to express personal stories, hopes, and emotions through delicate stitches.
Photo: Stefano Massé
In Her Threads, this heritage moves from the private sphere to the international runway, where embroidery becomes a powerful storytelling device rather than a decorative flourish.
Photo: Stefano Massé
The show unfolded as an immersive visual journey. Suspended threads formed a symbolic landscape that accompanied models through the emotional stages of a woman’s life. The narrative moved from innocence to awareness, from invisibility to empowerment, capturing the evolving role of women across time. Subtle embroidered details appeared hidden within seams, cuffs, and backs of garments, suggesting the often-unseen labor and emotional memory embedded in traditional craftsmanship.
Photo: Stefano Massé
As the collection progressed, the threads themselves appeared to transform. What began as delicate fibers gradually evolved into bold structural elements within the garments, mirroring the shifting visibility and strength of women in society. The runway space also changed in tandem with this progression, opening gradually to light as the story moved toward self-determination and freedom.
Photo: Stefano Massé
The color palette followed the same narrative arc. Early looks were rendered in pale, almost ethereal tones, conveying the quiet beginnings of personal identity.
Photo: Stefano Massé
These shades transitioned into deeper, introspective hues before culminating in luminous whites that evoked clarity, autonomy, and renewal. The visual crescendo reinforced the central message of the collection: women are not confined by inherited structures; they actively shape the world around them.
Photo: Stefano Massé
At the heart of this vision is Huizhou Zhao, a Chinese designer based in Milan whose work consistently bridges cultural heritage and contemporary fashion. Through HUI Milano, Zhao reinterprets traditional Chinese craftsmanship—including embroidery, silk artistry, and textile traditions—within a modern design language that resonates across global fashion.
Photo: Stefano Massé
Her creative practice reflects a broader mission to preserve and celebrate artisanal knowledge. By bringing historic techniques into a contemporary context, HUI Milano transforms heritage into living design, allowing centuries-old craftsmanship to continue evolving within the modern fashion landscape.
