Ms. Polwatte Illanperuma A, Gayathri Bimba (1st-year doctoral student in the Kanai Lab, Social Data and Media Research Area) received a Bronze Award at the 2025 Cross-Strait University Nanhua Yi Embroidery Art and Creativity Competition.

The 2025 Cross-Strait University Nanhua Yi Embroidery Art and Creativity Competition is jointly organized by the Design Education Branch of the China Industrial Design Association, Southeast University, Tunghai University, Tainan National University of the Arts, and the People's Government of Nanhua County. The competition aims to preserve, reinterpret, and promote Nanhua Yi Embroidery, a representative form of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, through contemporary art, design, and technological innovation. The 2025 edition attracted more than 400 entries from 38 universities, serving as an important platform for cultural exchange and creative exploration among young designers, artists, and researchers.

＊Reference：School of Arts, Southeast University

■Date Awarded
December 10, 2025

■Title
Reflections of Yi Splendor - Experiencing Yi Traditional Fashion through AR

■Creators
P. I. A. Gayathri Bimba, Kim Yu (Southeast University)

■Abstract
"Reflections of Yi Splendor - Experiencing Yi Traditional Fashion through AR" is an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience designed to reinterpret and promote the cultural value of Nanhua Yi Embroidery through contemporary digital technologies. The project integrates full-body tracking for virtual garment try-on, facial feature tracking for embroidery-inspired AR filters, digital reconstruction of embroidery motifs, and interactive visualization techniques to create engaging cultural experiences. By enabling users to virtually experience traditional Yi costumes and accessories in real time, the project explores new possibilities for cultural tourism, digital fashion, and the sustainable dissemination of intangible cultural heritage.

■Comment
I am deeply honored to receive this award. Through this project, we explored how augmented reality technologies can contribute to preserving and revitalizing intangible cultural heritage. By integrating full-body tracking, facial feature tracking, digital embroidery reconstruction, and immersive virtual try-on experiences, we sought to create a novel platform that bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary digital fashion. I sincerely thank my collaborators, mentors, and the competition organizers for their invaluable support, and I look forward to continuing research that combines emerging digital technologies with cultural heritage preservation and creative cultural applications.

August 17, 2026