PESHAWAR: Pakistani artist Hira Ali has won the prestigious Cultural Exchange Award at the 4th ISFS International Folk Gifts Innovative Design Contest in Shanghai, China.
Her achievement brings together traditional art forms from Pakistan’s remote mountain communities and contemporary global fashion, earning appreciation from art circles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Her award-winning entry, titled Folk Hues: Kalash and Jinshan Colour Fusion, impressed the international jury by blending the intricate indigenous embroidery of Pakistan’s Kalash Valley with the vibrant, narrative-driven brushwork of Shanghai’s historic Jinshan Farmer Paintings. Ali shared details of her achievement with Dawn from China following the announcement.
Organised by the Shanghai Fashion and Accessories Society under the theme “Algorithm”, the competition invited domestic and international designers to reinterpret folk traditions from different cultures through contemporary wearable designs. Participants used items such as baseball caps, scarves, T-shirts and socks as creative canvases.
The initiative aimed to promote cross-cultural dialogue, sustainable design and artistic collaboration among scholars studying at Chinese academic institutions.
Ali drew inspiration from the Kalash community of Chitral, which is known for its distinctive cultural practices, endangered language and traditional textile designs. “I wanted to transform this indigenous heritage into contemporary apparel designs and showcase its unique tribal character on a global platform,” she said.
She combined traditional Kalash patterns with Jinshan Farmer Paintings, a folk art form that originated in Shanghai’s Jinshan district in the late 1950s.
Despite their geographical, historical and linguistic differences, Ali said, the two traditions shared a common artistic spirit, reflected in their vibrant colours and close connection with everyday life and the natural environment.
The final evaluation meeting was held at Donghua University in Shanghai, where her academic mentor, Wu Pengxiao of Shanghai University, also received the Excellent Tutor Award in recognition of his guidance and contribution to the cross-cultural initiative.