Founder and CEO of UNIPX Group Yitong Qin and Maye Musk

Gotham Hall in New York City became the epicenter of culture and sustainability as China Media Group (CMG), in partnership with UNIPX GROUP, hosted the 2025 Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala.

The event featured a special video address from Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China and President of CMG. Notable dignitaries in attendance included Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the United States; Fu Cong, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Stephen Orlins, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, each delivering insightful speeches. In addition, Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO‘s Assistant Director-General for Culture, extended his congratulations via video message, celebrating the successful recognition of the Spring Festival as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

The event welcomed Chen Li, Chinese Consul General in New York, along with ambassadors and diplomats from Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE, Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Maldives. Among the distinguished guests were Maye Musk, renowned nutritionist, model, and best-selling author; Mandy Harvey, deaf singer and America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winner; and NBA star Joe Johnson, who made his highly anticipated runway debut. Nearly 200 guests from diverse industries gathered to honor the occasion.

The evening featured mesmerizing performances that seamlessly blended tradition and modern artistry. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City delivered heartfelt renditions of The Song of Calling and A Rainbow Tomorrow, filling the hall with youthful harmony. The Exile Dance Team impressed the audience with a fusion of Traditional Ballet, Hiplet, and Ribbon Dance, merging classical elegance with contemporary energy. The Huangye Jazz Band added a festive touch with lively performances of Golden Snake Dance and Happy New Year. Mandy Harvey, joined by hearing-impaired students, gave a touching and inclusive performance of Try and Masterpiece, using both music and sign language to deliver a powerful message.

A highlight of the evening was the Cultural Threads Collection F/W25, a spectacular runway show presented by CCTV x FICFF, blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary fashion. The collection drew inspiration from the Year of the Snake, symbolizing renewal and transformation; the globally acclaimed video game Black Myth: Wukong, reinterpreting ancient mythology through modern design; and the iconic dance performance The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, which pays homage to the famous Chinese scroll painting A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains.

Mandy Harvey, joined by hearing-impaired students

CCTV x FICFF F/W 2025 Cultural Threads Collection

A special acknowledgment was given to FICFF members—CHANTEX, Shawn Baron Pinckney, Caroline Brown, Victoria Manion, and Benjamin Acklin— for their remarkable contributions in bringing this collection to life. Their work exemplified the seamless integration of cultural heritage and sustainable innovation, creating a meaningful and forward-thinking fashion experience.

Adding to the excitement, Joe Johnson’s runway debut marked a unique crossover between sports and fashion, reinforcing the event’s theme of cultural exchange and collaboration.

Beyond a Lunar New Year celebration, the 2025 Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala served as a powerful platform for cultural exchange and sustainability, demonstrating how fashion and art can bridge tradition and modern innovation to inspire a more sustainable future.

The success of the event resonated globally, with coverage by 1,895 major media outlets across 69 countries and regions, including the U.S., U.K., Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, and India—reaching an international audience of 910 million people.