Brides of the Mountains: Yi Wedding Craft Heritage in China exhibition, running until May 17th at London Craft Week 2026, offers fascinating insights into the rich bridal craft traditions of the Yi ethnic minority from Southwest China.
For the Yi people living across the mountainous regions of Liangshan and Yunnan, bridal garments are created over years by mothers, grandmothers, and elder women, becoming an intimate archive of care, memory, and lineage. This exhibition brings together wedding dresses, jewellery, and ceremonial objects to explore the bridal traditions of the Yi people. Beyond wedding traditions, it offers a fascinating insight into Yi culture, which few outside China will be aware of.
Brides of the Mountains: Yi Wedding Craft Heritage in China is open until May 17th from 12:00 to 18:00 at the Fitzrovia Gallery in London. As well as the exhibition, guided tours and embroidery workshops are also available to join.
The exhibition is co-organised by Yi Crafts, Moonland Nuosu, and Liuran and is part of London Craft Week 2026.
On the opening night, as well as exploring the exhibition, guests had the chance to try their hand at embroidery and watch traditional dancing. They also had the opportunity to hear Chelsea Su, a director of Moonland Nuosu, perform a traditional Yi song while wearing a vintage Yi outfit made by her grandmother.
Speaking to China Minutes at the exhibition’s opening night, she said: “We’re very proud to bring the brides of the mountains exhibition to London as part of London Craft Week 2026”
For those learning about the Yi ethnic minority for the first time, she hopes “people can take away an understanding and interest in the Yi people. That they will leave wanting to learn more about our culture and our craft.”
A big feeling for her was not just sharing Yi culture with people who were unaware of it, but also helping herself and other Yi people in London feel a slice of home.
“A lot of Yi people who live away from home have the same problem as me, we miss home and feel lonely. I wanted to create something where my people can feel warmth and love.”
Part of that was her performance: “I was able to connect with my people again. It is a song I grew up with; every single family dinner, my dad and my grandma would sing this song together. Today I’m in London by myself, but to be able to sing this song makes me feel at home.”
Sizi Yuzhun was one of the fellow Yi guests at the opening night. Speaking about the exhibition, he said: “I think it’s very significant because Yi is quite well known within China for its poems, culture, arts, and the Torch Festival, but outside China it’s little known.”
“As a member of the Yi, I’m very proud and even a little emotional. I think it’s a very well-curated exhibition… they’ve done an amazing job.”
As well as visiting the exhibition, he hopes that in the future, British people who visit China don’t just visit Beijing and Shanghai, but also see and know traditional China, away from the well-trodden path.
“Go southwest, go to Sichuan to see my culture and enjoy the traditional and authentic China.”
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