Saving heritage with smart tech

The brand then translated this digital reservoir into the language of contemporary fashion.

The project delivered about 5,000 decoded patterns leading to 384 sample designs and generating 8 million yuan ($1.14 million) in output value in its first year.

For Zhao, it demonstrated that cultural activation could be both commercially viable and creatively transformative.

Building on the successful model, Zhao's team is extending the application to the carpet manufacturing sector.

In November, they conducted field research in Cuihuangkou town in Tianjin, a renowned carpet production hub, exploring how digitally decoded "cultural genes" could empower traditional industries.

Despite progress, challenges remain.