MILAN, Italy, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese press-on nails were showcased in Milan on Wednesday during Milan Fashion Week, arousing the interest of visitors.
At a special event dedicated to Chinese nail art and crystal products, manufacturers from Donghai county in China's Jiangsu province presented designs combining crystal embellishments with traditional techniques such as filigree and hand-painting.
Press-on nails are pre-decorated artificial nails attached by adhesive, allowing wearers to easily switch styles for different outfits, occasions or moods.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Donghai's designation as a World Craft City for Crystal by the World Crafts Council. The Donghai region has recently become a leading center for handmade press-on nails, successfully incorporating crystals and Chinese cultural elements into its designs. Its established e-commerce networks and logistics services have helped local brands easily reach overseas consumers.
Various styles have been displayed during the event. An Italian model showcased translucent, green-gradient nails adorned with green tourmaline, while another set combined hand-painting, color gradients and three-dimensional detailing to evoke Song Dynasty porcelain and traditional Chinese gardens. These designs incorporating Eastern aesthetic elements appealed to many Italian buyers who expressed interest in adding them to their collections.
Visitors gathered around the exhibition area, looking closely at the intricate patterns before trying them on and posing for photographs. Models also demonstrated how different nail designs could perfectly complement various fashion looks.
The showcase served as a platform for Donghai to pursue cultural co-creation and industry-wide collaboration, reinforcing mutually beneficial economic ties between China and Italy. Participants of the event expressed their anticipation for deeper cooperation in design research, brand development and market channels.
According to figures presented at the event, Donghai's crystal trade exceeded 60 billion yuan (about 8.94 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, while sales of handmade press-on nails reached 15 billion yuan (about 2.24 billion U.S. dollars).
