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Yangzhou mother-of-pearl inlaid products are among official licensed products of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [Photo/WeChat account: yangzhou-fabu]
A series of mother-of-pearl inlaid products, launched by the Yangzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Treasure Hall, has received authorization from Hangzhou Kayford Holdings, the FIFA World Cup's official licensee for Greater China.
The series was the only intangible cultural heritage (ICH) item from Jiangsu province selected for the special "Intangible Cultural Heritage Meets the World Cup" program of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off in Mexico on June 12.
Han Lijuan, a national ICH inheritor of Yangzhou lacquerware decoration techniques, is the series' main creator. The creation process involved putting natural seashells through over 20 manual steps, including polishing, inlaying, lacquering, and burnishing.
In design, visual elements related to the World Cup, such as event logos, are combined with traditional Chinese patterns like ruyi (curved scepter) motifs.
The products include storage boxes, makeup mirrors, sunglasses, and mechanical keyboards, transforming ICH from ornamental collectibles into everyday items. They will soon be launched on the World Cup official online store and at pop-up stores in cities such as Hangzhou and Ningbo.
Additionally, Han and two other artisans — Zhang Zhenmei and Gu Xiaoci — will each create an elegant work using their respective crafts of lacquerware, paper-cutting, and woodblock printing. The pieces will be presented to FIFA and permanently kept at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
