Displaying cultural heritage in innovative designs: A study on the preservation and innovation of China’s Pai Yao traditional clothing

Yao embroidery from Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Guangdong Province, represents a crucial element of China’s intangible cultural heritage, embodying both artistic expression and cultural identity. This study identified and explored innovative designs for culturally significant traditional Yao patterns. Employing literature review, case studies and field research, Yao clothing patterns from northern Guangdong were collected, vectorized and digitally analysed using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. A modern pattern series was developed, and CLO3D software was applied to simulate virtual clothing models that incorporate these traditional patterns. The research evaluated the cultural identity of both contemporary and traditional Yao consumers through the production of physical garments. Findings demonstrate the effectiveness of virtual design in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural characteristics while driving innovation in the fashion industry. This study contributes to the preservation of Yao patterns and illustrates how virtual displays can safeguard traditional heritage for application in today’s fashion industry.