Opening ceremony of the 48th WorldSkills Competition. Photo credit: CCTV News and Guangming Daily.

The 48th WorldSkills Competition recently concluded in Shanghai, China. Professor Li Ning of the School of Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) led the technical team for the Fashion Technology skill to a successful title defense, securing the gold medal for the fifth consecutive time. This unprecedented achievement sets a new record for consecutive gold medal wins in the skill at WorldSkills and marks a significant contribution to enhancing the international standing of Chinese fashion.

Professor Li Ning and competitor Yu Na

The Fashion Technology competition centered on the theme “Spring Garden” and comprised six modules: draping, fashion design, pattern drafting and marker making, design and construction of a daywear or formal dress, and overall embellishment. Competitors had 18 hours to complete the tasks.

With Professor Li Ning’s leadership and guidance, Beijing competitor Yu Na approached the competition’s unpredictable, on-site tasks with composure and consistency, delivering an outstanding performance. Inspired by the theme, her design incorporated a range of traditional Chinese garment elements, including a mandarin collar, cloud-collar embellishments, traditional knotted buttons, and piping. The result was a refined and elegant expression of Oriental fashion, earning unanimous praise from visitors and competition experts alike. Professor Li Ning also served as a competition judge, winning recognition from her international peers for her outstanding professionalism.

Celebration Dress for the “Spring Garden” Birthday Celebration
Design and development: Chinese expert team | On-site construction: Yu Na

Reflecting on six editions of the competition and 12 years of exploration and practice, Professor Li Ning emphasized the central role of aesthetic education in technical training and talent development, with career development serving as a key guiding principle.

She noted that future competition in the fashion industry would increasingly depend on multiple dimensions, including aesthetic sensibility, design, and technical proficiency. Integrating aesthetics with craftsmanship and strengthening the connection between education and industry are not only important directions for WorldSkills but also essential goals in educating the next generation of creative professionals.

The WorldSkills Competition has introduced a new vision for talent development: building comprehensive knowledge structures and nurturing a new generation of fashion professionals who combine sophisticated aesthetic judgment with exceptional technical skills.

The competition coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of China’s most cherished traditional holidays. Amid the demanding competition schedule, Professor Li Ning and her technical team prepared mooncakes inspired by China’s 24 solar terms, along with creatively designed gift bags featuring rabbit motifs. These gifts were presented to competition experts, who were also introduced to the traditions and cultural significance of the festival.

The team also transformed leftover materials from the competition and training sessions into small horse-shaped charms, which they gave to competitors and judges. The gifts carried wishes for every competitor to achieve victory and success in the Year of the Horse.

The competition served not only as an arena for technical excellence but also as a platform for cultural exchange. Over the four days of competition, the Chinese fashion team sought not only to demonstrate the spirit of competition and showcase its technical expertise, but also to share compelling stories about China and promote Chinese culture to an international audience.

About WorldSkills

The WorldSkills Competition is a global skills competition for young people. Founded in Spain in the 1950s, it has evolved over more than 75 years into an internationally influential event. Its membership encompasses 90 countries and regions, representing approximately two-thirds of the world’s population.

Through competitions and vocational skills training, WorldSkills helps young people around the world develop the independence, confidence, and capabilities needed to meet the challenges of the future. It also promotes economic development across regions and has transformed the lives and career trajectories of millions of young people.

Since China joined WorldSkills in 2010, a nationwide movement has gained momentum around the principles of “Serving the Nation Through Skills” and “Skills Illuminate the Path to the Future.” The development of high-level technical skills has given young people in China greater confidence in shaping their futures.

On September 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 48th WorldSkills Competition. He emphasized: “China will take hosting this competition as an opportunity to encourage and guide more workers, particularly young people, to pursue success through skills development.”

Held under the theme “Skills Change the World, Skills Illuminate the Future,” the 48th WorldSkills Competition brought together 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions to compete across 64 skill categories.