From 22 to 27 September 2026, the 48th WorldSkills Competition was held in Shanghai. As a technical support unit for the Fashion Technology competition, Shanghai Textile Industry Workers' College contributed staff across venue management, technical support, competition operations and visitor services.

The team supported the full event cycle, from preparation and on-site technical delivery to the public "Try-a-Skill" experience and post-event dismantling. The college also took part in the "One School, One Member" international cultural exchange activity, helping connect visiting delegations with local schools.

As a key technical support unit for the Fashion Technology competition, the college set up a dedicated team covering venue planning, equipment testing, materials management, competition coordination and on-site emergency response. Before the event, the team took part in full-scale rehearsals based on WorldSkills technical documents, helping refine operational procedures.

From March to July 2026, the venue manager and assistant worked on site at the competition venue. In August, preparations accelerated, covering layout construction, equipment and materials procurement, leasing, and competition operations. From September, the team focused on final readiness for materials, facilities, logistics and on-site support.

During the competition period from 14 to 28 September, the technical support team was stationed at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. They supported venue setup, equipment checks, materials management and on-site problem-solving, and continued through post-event dismantling and inventory. Their work helped ensure the Fashion Technology competition ran smoothly and was highly commended by the WorldSkills Fashion Technology project manager.

At the WorldSkills "Try-a-Skill" experience zone, the college turned its textile and garment training workshops into an interactive space for visitors, helping bring specialist skills closer to the public and showcase the appeal of traditional craftsmanship.

Three hands-on workshops were offered: tie-dye, Chinese frog buttons, and fabric storage bags. With guidance from teachers, visitors folded button loops, threaded needles and stitched their own fabric pieces. The small frog buttons could be used as fasteners, brooches or decorative items, showing that traditional crafts can fit naturally into everyday life. Participants of different ages left with their own handmade works and a stronger appreciation of the value of skilled craftsmanship.

The experience zone combined skills education, cultural exchange and the presentation of vocational education outcomes, making technical skills more accessible and engaging for the public.

As part of the 48th WorldSkills Competition "One School, One Member" international exchange programme, the college was paired with the WorldSkills teams from Egypt and Saudi Arabia for in-depth cultural exchange. The activities used skills as a bridge to encourage dialogue and mutual learning among young people from different countries.

On 22 September, the college hosted two themed sessions: Chinese calligraphy and mini Hanfu craft-making. In the calligraphy workshop, international participants experienced the full process of brush handling, ink preparation and writing, and created their own "Fu" characters, a traditional symbol of good fortune. In the Hanfu workshop, guided by the college's craft teachers, foreign competitors stitched miniature Hanfu ornaments and explored the aesthetics and craftsmanship of traditional Chinese clothing. Bilingual Chinese-English interpretation was provided throughout to support smooth communication.

The exchange gave international competitors a closer experience of Chinese traditional culture and demonstrated the college's open and inclusive approach to vocational education, helping build a friendly platform for skills exchange and cultural dialogue among young people.

The college supported the Fashion Technology competition, ran the "Try-a-Skill" experience zone at the main venue, and hosted the "One School, One Member" international exchange activities on campus. These three strands of work ran in parallel, covering both technical support and international cultural exchange.

During the competition and related activities, teachers and students were interviewed by CCTV, Xinhua News Agency and local media. The experience helped them build confidence in public communication and grow through real-world practice.

In the Fashion Technology competition, the Chinese competitor won the gold medal among 31 participants, marking China's fifth consecutive title in this event. The Chinese expert team expressed special appreciation to the college's technical support team for its contribution. Overall, the Chinese delegation achieved its best-ever result at WorldSkills, finishing first in both the gold medal table and the overall team standings for the fifth time.

The college used the event as an opportunity to strengthen its technical service capacity, deepen reform of fashion education, and integrate WorldSkills standards into teaching practice. Participation also raised the college's capacity for international reception and exchange. Looking ahead, it will continue to build on its strengths in textiles and fashion, nurture high-level technical talent, preserve and innovate traditional textile crafts, and further expand international cooperation.