Armenian Traditional Attire Captivates at the National Costume Festival in China

During the National Costume Festival at East China Normal University, two Armenian garments garnered widespread admiration from attendees. Both pieces are part of the ChinArmArt collection, which is China’s only repository of Armenian traditional dress.
The first garment was the Artsakh or Karabakh taraz, easily recognizable by its vivid red and green hues—a symbolic representation of Armenian heritage and strength. The second garment was worn by Mariam Sahakyan, an Armenian student from East China Normal University, and featured Ourfa-inspired embroidery that reinterprets centuries-old motifs with contemporary elegance.
The festival took place on May 7 at the university’s Xiayu Island, where the highlight was an international costume parade. Sahakyan joined participants from various cultures to showcase their national attire. The event also included Hanfu demonstrations, tie-dye workshops, and cultural dialogues, emphasizing the role of traditional dress in fostering global connections.
In interviews, Sahakyan reflected, “The ceremonial silk overgarment in regal purple, adorned with intricate floral embroidery in the Ourfa technique, was a true masterpiece. The ornamental language, rich with floral motifs and symbolic patterns, transported me to a bygone era of Armenian aristocracy. Paired with a matching headpiece and draped veil, I felt like royalty, embodying the documented conventions of 16th to 19th-century nobility.”