MILAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- As the Italian model slowly moved her fingers under the spotlight, the green tourmaline stones on the translucent, green-gradient nails glittered, drawing the visitors' attention at Milan Fashion Week.
The showcase was part of a special event held Wednesday on the sidelines of Milan Fashion Week, featuring handmade nail art products -- specifically press-on nails -- from Donghai County in East China's Jiangsu Province.
Far from ordinary disposable press-on nails, the Donghai products combine art with techniques such as crystal carving, filigree and enamel work. Some elaborate sets carry price tags of thousands of U.S. dollars.
Li Xiao, general manager of Jiangsu Jingyiyi Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., said a hand-painted Sun Wukong (Monkey King) press-on nail set brought to the event proved especially popular. A local tour guide spotted it on the first day and pre-ordered it.
Li said Sun Wukong's popularity overseas gives the design cross-cultural appeal. Since Donghai is closely associated with Huaguo Mountain, the legendary home of the Monkey King, designers drew inspiration from a story tied to the area and made this characteristic authentic creation.
"Handcrafting is central to the products' character," said Li. Painting, the layers of carving, and the placement of inlaid crystals all reflect the maker's individual artistry, while traditional techniques such as filigree have also been incorporated into modern nail art, giving the products their distinctive character and value.
"Unlike disposable options, these intricate press-on nails can be carefully removed, stored, and reused," Li noted. "This makes them a high-value alternative to traditional manicures done at a nail salon."
A Chinese press-on nail company told Xinhua that a hand-painted set can range in price from several hundred RMB to several thousand U.S. dollars. A set inspired by the famous Chinese painting A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains has been priced at 2,000 U.S. dollars. Some people have begun treating the nails as collectibles.
"I'm deeply drawn to Chinese press-on nail design. I think this is something novel for Italy, since designs like these are rarely seen on the market here," said Italian fashion blogger Katerina Kutsak, adding that the motifs incorporating Chinese culture felt especially distinctive.
Behind the products on display in Milan is an industry that emerged around 2019, after investors noticed that small crystal stones could be attached to artificial nails. The industry expanded rapidly, drawing on the crystal resources of Donghai, which is globally recognized as a World Craft City for Crystal.
Donghai has since become China's largest press-on nail production center, with its products exported to over 30 countries and regions, according to the county government.
