From mid-October to late November each year, the China-European Union (EU) Literary Festival invites a dozen authors from EU member states and China to hold discussions on different topics related to contemporary literature in four major Chinese cities. At a related literature salon at the Zhongshuge Bookstore in Beijing on November 5 as part of the festival’s eighth edition, Beijing Review’s editorial consultant Elsbeth van Paridon (Dutch) spoke about fashion and how it reflects the social trends of any given time—from the EU to China. The following is an edited excerpt from her speech:
Fashion is an art form that encompasses more than just clothing or accessories; it’s a reflection of society and a representation of individual identity.
From ancient times to the