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Insight of the Day: Feiyi: Luxury’s answer to ‘guochao’

Writer's picture: InsightTrendsWorldInsightTrendsWorld

Findings:

  • Feiyi (intangible cultural heritage) has emerged as an evolution of guochao (national style) in China, focusing on heritage preservation and authenticity rather than just making traditional designs trendy.

  • Younger Chinese consumers, especially Gen Z, are driving this trend by engaging with feiyi crafts on social media and purchasing feiyi-inspired products.

  • Luxury brands like Loewe, Fendi, and Dior are incorporating feiyi elements into their designs, aligning with their emphasis on craftsmanship, rarity, and cultural storytelling.

  • Feiyi’s appeal lies in its authenticity, uniqueness, and ability to connect products with China’s rich cultural identity.

Trend Analysis

Trend:

Luxury Cultural Heritage MarketingThe feiyi movement enables brands to integrate traditional Chinese crafts into their offerings, creating a bridge between cultural preservation and modern luxury.

Consumer Motivation:

  • Cultural Pride: Consumers seek products that reflect and celebrate their heritage.

  • Authenticity: A desire for meaningful, well-crafted items with unique cultural narratives.

  • Exclusivity: Feiyi crafts are labor-intensive and rare, appealing to luxury buyers’ preference for distinctive products.

What is Driving the Trend:

  • Rising cultural confidence and national pride among Chinese consumers, particularly Gen Z.

  • Social media amplifying the visibility and appreciation of traditional crafts.

  • Government support for heritage preservation through festivals, tourism, and education.

Who Are the People the Article is Referring To:

  • Gen Z and Millennial Chinese consumers under 40, who account for the majority of feiyi-related purchases.

  • Luxury buyers seeking high-value, culturally meaningful products.

Description of Consumers' Product or Service:

  • Feiyi-related products such as embroidered horse-face skirts, lacquer fans, and velvet flowers, often tied to regional or historical significance.

  • Luxury collaborations incorporating feiyi elements into handbags, clothing, and accessories, blending traditional techniques with contemporary design.

Conclusions

  1. Feiyi represents a deeper, more authentic evolution of cultural marketing in China, resonating with value-conscious and culture-focused consumers.

  2. Luxury brands can position themselves as culturally sensitive and exclusive by incorporating feiyi elements into their designs.

Implications

For Brands:

  • Cultural Integration: Collaborate with feiyi artisans and communities to create authentic, culturally significant designs.

  • Storytelling: Highlight the unique histories, techniques, and regions behind feiyi crafts to elevate brand narratives.

  • Exclusivity: Promote the rarity and labor-intensive processes of feiyi products to appeal to luxury buyers.

For Society:

  • The feiyi movement fosters cultural preservation, pride, and appreciation for traditional crafts.

  • Encourages sustainable practices by supporting artisan communities and heritage crafts.

For Consumers:

  • Offers meaningful, high-quality products that connect with cultural identity.

  • Provides opportunities to support cultural preservation through purchases.

For the Future:

  • Feiyi’s focus on authenticity and heritage may influence global luxury trends, encouraging other markets to integrate local crafts into high-end products.

  • Digital platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu will continue to amplify cultural trends, driving engagement and sales.

Trends and Sub-Trends

Consumer Trend:

Cultural heritage as a driver of luxury consumption.

Consumer Sub-Trend:

Integration of regional crafts and stories into product design.

Big Social Trend:

Rising cultural confidence and pride among younger generations.

Local Trend:

Increased visibility and demand for Chinese feiyi crafts on digital platforms.

Worldwide Social Trend:

Global luxury brands embracing localized cultural narratives.

Name of the Big Trend:

"Luxury Heritage Revival"

Name of the Big Social Trend:

"Authenticity in Luxury Marketing"

Social Drive:

The desire for meaningful, culturally rooted experiences in a world of mass production.

Learnings for Companies to Use in 2025:

  1. Collaborate Locally: Partner with regional artisans to create authentic, high-value products.

  2. Emphasize Authenticity: Avoid superficial cultural symbols and focus on deeper narratives and craftsmanship.

  3. Utilize Digital Platforms: Leverage social media to showcase the creation process and cultural stories behind feiyi-inspired products.

Strategy Recommendations for Companies in 2025:

  1. Expand Artisan Collaborations: Work with master craftsmen to create limited-edition items blending tradition and modernity.

  2. Tell Authentic Stories: Use immersive storytelling, from videos to exhibitions, to educate consumers on the cultural significance of feiyi elements.

  3. Highlight Rarity: Promote the exclusivity of feiyi products as a key selling point to differentiate them in a competitive luxury market.

Final Sentence (Key Concept):

"Feiyi elevates luxury marketing by connecting cultural heritage, authenticity, and exclusivity to meet the values of China’s discerning, culture-focused consumers."

What Brands & Companies Should Do in 2025:

  • Action: Invest in authentic cultural collaborations and highlight the craftsmanship behind products.

  • How to Do It: Partner with artisans, amplify narratives through digital storytelling, and position feiyi products as rare, high-value symbols of cultural pride.

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