Water and Silk: The Spirit of Suzhou River

Suzhou Creek Project of Inspired Cultural & Creative Design

About Events

Water is the lifeblood of a city. Every great city is shaped by a river that nourishes its spirit. In Shanghai, the Suzhou River flows with history and culture, acting as a symbol of the city's memory. It has witnessed Shanghai’s remarkable transformation into a global metropolis, carrying the stories and emotions of countless generations. As the heart of "International Jing’an" and the "Suzhou Creek World-Class Waterfront Area," the Suzhou River is not only the mother river of Shanghai but also the cultural lifeline of the city, linking its past and future while blending Eastern and Western influences. Through the development of Suzhou Creek as a world-class waterfront, Shanghai demonstrates its commitment to seamlessly integrating historical heritage with modern urban growth, ensuring that the Suzhou River remains a vibrant source of culture and creativity, telling the city's unique story.

In 2025, an era brimming with new opportunities, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Information Office launches Our Water: Flowing from Shanghai - Intercultural Dialogues among World Cities (Season 2). This series will feature a range of activities spanning different years, media, and communities, fostering cross-cultural dialogue with world-class waterfronts, inspired by the Suzhou River and Suzhou Creek.As part of this initiative, the Suzhou Creek Project of Inspired Cultural & Creative Design has officially begun, hosted by the Suzhou Creek Functional Area Management Committee and Shanghai Suzhou Credk (Group) Co., Ltd. The Project aims to create works that blend deep cultural heritage with modern artistic expression, showcasing Shanghai’s global appeal, the international charm of Jing’an, and the vibrant energy of the Suzhou Creek waterfront area.

The first season of the "Our Water" event saw the intangible cultural heritage silk works from "Silkinc" captivate audiences at a Paris exhibition, gaining widespread attention both in China and abroad. This year, the competition has invited "Silkinc" to showcase the elegance and strength of the Suzhou River through silk. Silk, a symbol of Chinese civilization, carries rich historical and cultural significance, much like the Suzhou River itself. "Silkinc" combines innovative fabric technologies with traditional silk craftsmanship, following the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sustainable development philosophy. It stands as a model for blending intangible cultural heritage with technological innovation. Through silk, designers can more deeply express the cultural richness and contemporary spirit of the Suzhou River, creating both artistic and functional cultural products that share the river’s unique charm with the world.

Award-winning works will have the chance to become official souvenirs for Our Water: Flowing from Shanghai - Intercultural Dialogues among World Cities, distributed worldwide to showcase the unique cultural and creative essence of Suzhou Creek.

Organizers

Suzhou Creek Functional Area Management Committee, Shanghai Suzhou Creek (Group) Co., Ltd. Suzhou Creek Functional Area

Co-organizer

USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry

Supporting

Silkinc

Media Partner

Mana

Visual China Group

Ishijue

Work Creation Requirements

Water and Silk: The Spirit of Suzhou River. Silkinc, with over a century of craftsmanship since 1896, integrates a full modern industrial chain for silk production, covering everything from silkworm breeding to weaving, dyeing, and design. The company has extensive R&D capabilities and international recognition. The Project seeks designs that blend traditional and modern concepts, as well as Eastern and Western influences, to create cultural and creative gifts that embody "Chinese romance and blessings. It also encourages the integration of creative elements from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-generated content (AIGC), highlighting the fusion of technology and culture.

01 Creative Content

The scope of the works can encompass various dimensions such as concepts, visuals, materials, and techniques, including but not limited to the following themes:

o History and Future of Suzhou Creek

Showcase the historical and cultural significance of Suzhou Creek, highlight the development of the Jing’an District’s international cultural exchange, and tell the story of the thriving cultural and creative industries along the Suzhou River waterfront.

o Dialogue Between Two Cities

Reflect the cultural exchange between Shanghai and other global cities through design, illustrating the fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics.

o Integration of Cultural Elements

Incorporate traditional Chinese cultural motifs such as patterns, calligraphy, and ink painting, or Haipai (Shanghai-style) cultural characteristics to highlight the unique charm of Eastern aesthetics.

o Inheritance and Innovation of Silk Craftsmanship

Showcase traditional silk heritage techniques such as Kesi weaving, embroidery, and tie-dyeing, or integrate modern technological fabrics to demonstrate the versatility and innovation of silk.

o ESG and Sustainable Design

Utilize eco-friendly and sustainable materials combined with silk to promote green design principles and demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility.

o AI Creativity and Content Generation

Encourage the use of AI and AI-generated content (AIGC) to blend technology with culture. This includes AI-assisted design, content creation, and AI-based data analysis for inspiration.

02 Types of Works

There are no restrictions on the types of works, which can include but are not limited to:

·Physical Products Jewelry, home goods, entertainment items, souvenirs, cultural and creative merchandise, crafts, stationery, etc.

·IP Character Design Distinctive IP characters that showcase cultural creativity and brand value.

·Digital Content Creation Silk-inspired visual designs, short videos, digital art, and other digital works.

03 Related Articles

a. Shanghai Daily：Past and present blend in the Suhewan Functional Zone

(https://export.shobserver.com/baijiahao/html/737560.html）

b. silkinc:From Ancient Craft to Modern Luxury: Silkinc’s Journey to the Louvre

(https://womensjournal.com/from-ancient-craft-to-modern-luxury-silkincs-journey-to-the-louvre/)

Participation Requirements and Process

A. There is no registration fee. Participants can enter individually or as a team, with no restrictions on nationality, age, or profession. Only original works that have not been previously published, have no copyright disputes, and align with the theme are eligible.

B. Participants must submit the work details via email to icci-pr@sjtu.edu.cn and upload the required materials by April 20th, 2025. All required materials must be attached to the email.

C. Both individual and team entries are allowed. If participating as a team, participants must list all team members in order when submitting their works.

D. Competition Process:

·Preliminary Round: Submit registration, design sketches, and a document detailing the design and production process via the official email address (icci-pr@sjtu.edu.cn).

·Semi-finals and Finals: Selected works must submit detailed design files, planning documents, design explanations, business plans, etc., as required.

·Required materials for each stage will be announced in future notifications.

·All materials must be submitted on time through the specified channels. Any delays or incorrect submissions are the participant's responsibility.

·Winning works may be chosen as official souvenirs for the " Our Water: Flowing from Shanghai - Intercultural Dialogues among World Cities " and distributed globally. Designs should be feasible for mass production and distribution.

·Throughout the Project, participants may voluntarily provide supplementary materials such as software, demos, videos, models, prototypes, etc.

Timeline

Submission From now until April 20, 2025

March 21, 2025，Official Launch Ceremony

March 21, 2025，Suzhou Creek Field Trip

April 21 - April 25, 2025，Initial Judging

April 26 - April 30, 2025，Semi-final Training

May 11, 2025，Finalist Announcement

June 10, 2025，Finalist Ceremony

September 2025，Exhibition

Note: All dates are subject to change based on the competition's progress.

Evaluation and Awards

·A panel of expert judges will evaluate all submissions. Outstanding works will be recognized and rewarded at each stage of the Project.

Awards

Grand Prize

1 Winner

¥30,000+Sponsor Gifts

First Prize

2 Winners

¥20,000+Sponsor Gifts

Second Prize

3 Winners

¥10,000+Sponsor Gifts

Third Prize

5 Winners

¥5,000+Sponsor Gifts

Finalist

10 Winners

Sponsor Gifts

Tax: All prize amounts are pre-tax. The organizers will withhold and pay taxes according to local tax laws.

Certificates and Participation Gifts: All shortlisted participants will receive a certificate and a gift pack.

Note: The final awards and prizes may vary depending on the competition's outcomes.

Important Notes

1.All submissions must be original and unpublished, not previously made public in any form.

2.The organizers are not responsible for any legal issues or third-party losses caused by copyright violations, false, illegal, or improper content. The submitting individual or team will bear full legal responsibility.

3.If a work is selected as a finalist and the participant accepts the prize, they agree that the copyright ownership will be transferred to the organizer while retaining attribution rights, while the participant retains authorship credit.

4.Participants must guarantee the originality of their work and confirm that it does not involve any copyright disputes. They must ensure that all images, materials, and resources used are legally obtained and used, and they will assume legal responsibility.

5.If a work includes images or design elements from others, the participant must properly credit the source and obtain written consent. The competition is only responsible for evaluating the work’s quality. Any copyright issues are the responsibility of the participant. Works suspected of plagiarism or intellectual property violations will be disqualified. If an award-winning work is found in violation, the prize will be revoked, and the violation will be publicly announced. Participants will be liable for any third-party rights infringements.

6.Participation is voluntary. By entering any stage of the competition, participants confirm they fully understand and accept the competition's terms. The organizer reserves the final interpretation of the rules and decisions.

Declaration

1.No registration or other fees will be charged by any individual or organization at any stage of the competition.

2.If identical works are submitted by different authors, the work with the earliest submission time will be considered for awards.

3.The organizer holds the final authority to interpret all aspects of this event.

Sponsors and Partners

We sincerely invite high-quality brands and partners from both domestic and international markets to support the event. If interested, please contact us via email.(icci-pr@sjtu.edu.cn）