Today, we are in conversation with ZIQI ZHANG, 
founder of Hexihui Oriental Intangible Heritage 
Aesthetics Space, and a practitioner advancing con-
temporary expressions of traditional Chinese culture 
in the United States.
To many, Hanfu, a traditional Chinese style of dress 
with flowing robes worn for centuries, along with 
intangible cultural heritage and embroidery, remain 
confined to museums or special occasions. Zhang sees 
it differently. For her, culture belongs in everyday life, 
something that can be worn, felt, and passed on.
She describes Hanfu as something that reflects not 
only beauty, but also cultural confidence.
RUBY WANG: Many people are first drawn to 
Hanfu and Oriental aesthetics. But your work 
goes far beyond clothing. How would you 
describe what you are doing?
ZIQI ZHANG: What people notice first are the labels. 
What I am truly doing is building a cultural bridge 
and creating a cultural salon.
I am bringing Chinese traditional culture from distant 
symbolism into daily life. On one side are centuries 
of craftsmanship and ritual. On the other is modern 
life overseas. My goal is to make culture tangible and 
lived, something people carry naturally as confidence.
RW: You’ve called Hanfu “a walking cultural 
calling card.” Why?
ZZ: Because it is immediate and intimate. Language 
can create distance, but when Hanfu is worn, its 
motifs and form already tell a story.
In a cross-cultural setting, people can feel its ele-
gance instantly. But it must go beyond appearance. 
Each stitch carries meaning, turning beauty into 
confidence.
RW: You emphasize bringing culture into daily 
life. Why is that so important?
ZZ: Because only culture that enters daily life is truly 
alive.
If it exists only in museums or festivals, it is observed, 
not inherited. When it becomes part of how we dress, 
gather, and live, it takes root. For families in the 
United States, this can be simple rituals, clothing, 
stories, or seasonal habits. When culture becomes 
natural, it endures.
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BALLIET + WANG LUXURY LIVING 

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