Ningbo farmer paintings enter global fashion dialogue

Gao Nie'e (left) and Adam collaborate on a sketch of a horse-face skirt. [Photo/Tide News]

Gao Ni'e, a creator of Xiepu farmer paintings from Ningbo's Zhenhai district, joined hands with British fashion expert Adam to create a design for a traditional mamianqun, or horse-face skirt, during a course at the Zhejiang Fashion Institute of Technology on Dec 10.

Their collaboration blended Xiepu's vibrant harvest fish motif with British patterns, offering a vivid cross-cultural translation.

Adam first discovered farmer paintings at Ningbo's Shiqifang scenic area and has since explored their potential through AI technology, deconstructing colors and forms into a global fashion language. "Farmers paintings are full of vitality — simple yet atmospheric," he noted.

The course adopted a model integrating hand-drawn heritage, AI-assisted creation and international translation, encouraging students to innovate with traditional elements.

Beyond the classroom, Adam's team is developing shawls and mamianqun prototypes, combining rustic charm with international aesthetics. Soon, British students will wear these designs on local streets, turning farmer paintings into living cultural symbols.

For Gao, the experience was transformative: "I never imagined farmer paintings could be incorporated into international fashion." Adam remains optimistic: "The world increasingly values craftsmanship and tradition — this kind of cross-cultural innovation is exactly what's needed."