From April 21 to April 26, 2026, SAIBOSI, a leading Chinese carpet brand, was invited to participate in Milan Design Week, a world-renowned global design event. At the historic Palazzo Litta in Milan, Italy, the brand unveiled its “Shan Hai Hong Yao” National Intangible Cultural Heritage Design Collection and launched its next-generation glue-free weaving technology. As a leader in China’s home carpet industry, SAIBOSI responded to the theme of Milan Design Week 2026—“Metamorphosis”—through an innovative approach that interprets intangible heritage via cutting-edge technology.
Deconstruction and Renewal: Bridging Traditional Craft and Industrial Language
The “Shan Hai Hong Yao” collection is rooted in the textile craftsmanship of the Hong Yao ethnic group, a recognized national-level intangible cultural heritage of China. Instead of simply replicating traditional patterns, the SAIBOSI design team delved into the essence of the weaving process itself, capturing the subtle variations in yarn tension, twisting, and relaxation as practiced by Hong Yao artisans.
These “dynamic states,” inherent in handcrafted processes, are regarded as the true vitality of intangible heritage. Through systematic decoding and parametric reconstruction of weaving logic, SAIBOSI transformed this rhythmic, tension-filled manual experience into structured programs that can be precisely executed by modern industrial systems. In doing so, the brand achieved a profound translation from “traditional craftsmanship” to “industrial language.”
At the technical level, robotic arms were used to recreate the original structure of Hong Yao textiles. This was followed by a series of processes—including cutting, fiber washing, and reorganization—that restored the fibers to a more vibrant and authentic state. This reverse reconstruction—from “fabric” back to “material”—elevates the carpet beyond a functional home product to a medium that carries cultural memory.
From Structural Support to Sensory Resonance: Reconstructing Heritage Through Glue-Free Weaving
With the launch of its next-generation glue-free weaving technology, SAIBOSI further strengthened its patented innovation. Based on wool weaving techniques, this technology achieves stability and structural integrity through the material itself, eliminating the need for traditional adhesives and striking a balance between environmental sustainability and tactile quality.
In the “Shan Hai Hong Yao” collection, this technology serves not only as a manufacturing method but also as a medium of expression. The carpets feature bold, large-grain textures with dense, dimensional piles that reinterpret the tactile memory of traditional handweaving. Rugged yet resilient, voluminous yet structured, the surface conveys a grounded, earth-like solidity when touched.
In terms of color, the collection reinterprets various shades of red in a contemporary context, embodying the Hong Yao people’s enduring spirit of optimism and courage. This approach not only reflects the depth of Chinese cultural heritage but also aligns with the aesthetic expectations of high-end global interiors, achieving an organic integration of cultural expression and international design language.
Winner of the French GPDP Design Innovation Award: Global Recognition for “Shan Hai Hong Yao”
Through its innovative interpretation of traditional craftsmanship, the “Shan Hai Hong Yao” collection was honored with the French GPDP Design Innovation Award. This international recognition affirms not only the collection’s design excellence but also the contemporary relevance of Chinese intangible heritage in the global design discourse.
The SAIBOSI design team stated: “Intangible heritage can only truly gain new vitality when it enters everyday life.” In their view, the value of design lies not merely in presenting culture, but in enabling it to be continuously used and experienced.
Hong Yao Heritage at Milan: Letting the World See the Beauty of the East
Under the theme “Metamorphosis,” Milan Design Week 2026 provides a global stage for transformation and cross-cultural dialogue. SAIBOSI’s participation is not only a response to this theme but also a statement rooted in both technology and culture—an assertion of China’s aesthetic voice: the beauty of China should be told by the Chinese themselves.
For a long time, Western perspectives have dominated the global aesthetic narrative. This imbalance largely stems from limited opportunities for alternative voices to be heard.
Melody, editor-in-chief of an internationally renowned home design magazine, commented: “Hong Yao culture is deeply rooted in the land, full of vitality and life. Bringing it to Milan is not just about showcasing craftsmanship, but about enabling the world to understand and appreciate the beauty of the East, creating true cultural resonance.”
Through this exhibition, SAIBOSI aims to present Chinese culture in its own voice and on its own terms. Behind this effort lies a dual confidence in both product and culture: supported by advanced glue-free weaving technology and centered on Hong Yao intangible heritage, SAIBOSI offers a Chinese approach to integrating traditional craftsmanship into modern systems and bringing it to the global stage.
Media Contact
Company Name: Shanghai Saibosi Textile Technology Co., Ltd.
Contact Person: Jiang Ya
Email: Send Email
City: Shanghai
Country: China
Website: saibosi.tamll.com
