With Hands And Heart

Having been active in the Chinese market for many years and, since 2021, with a branch located in the commercial and financial district at the heart of Shanghai, Marcolin is one of the most appreciated luxury eyewear brands among Chinese customers—especially the younger generation. In recent days, in collaboration with its local retailers, Marcolin’s Eastern branch is celebrating the Qixi Festival, also known as the “Double Seventh Festival” or “Chinese Valentine’s Day.” This occasion, much like February 14th in the rest of the world, is a celebration of love—but its ancient origins also highlight the deep cultural and economic significance of craftsmanship in China.

The festival’s origins trace back to one of the four great Chinese folktales: the legend of Qixi, which tells the story of a forbidden love between Zhinu, a goddess and skilled weaver, and Niulang, a mortal man. After the Queen Mother of Heaven separated them, she was moved by their sorrow and granted them a single meeting each year: on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. That day, which falls on August 29 this year, is now celebrated as the Qixi Festival. Today, it’s marked with hearts, flowers, and candlelit dinners. In the past, it was honored with moonlit weaving competitions, and girls would visit temples to pray for more skilled hands in textile crafts.

The importance of Qixi as a cherished tradition is affirmed by its inclusion in 2006 in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. For the Chinese, it is a time not only to celebrate love, but also to reflect on the historical significance of craftsmanship in the country—from ceramics and silk to lacquerwork, carving, and metalworking. This heritage of labor and skill continues today, merging tradition with innovation through new collaborations with international brands. One such example is Marcolin, which works with Chinese designers, has brought the successful “Marcolin Talks” series to Shanghai, and offers its Chinese customers ever-evolving, tailor-made, and immersive shopping experiences.