Winning designs from a competition by a textile company are set to inspire love and solidarity in a world hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic, Zhang Kun reports in Shanghai.

The "Love is Forever" international design competition by renowned Chinese textile company Hengyuanxiang received hundreds of submissions from home and abroad before May 15, when submissions were closed.

The competition, which kicked off on Earth Day on April 22, is supported by China National Radio and the Hubei Women's Federation. Hengyuanxiang says the event is aimed at inspiring love and solidarity in a world hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the company, the most outstanding designs will be used in gifts for the heroes in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

"A group of superheroes has emerged during the pandemic: the medical workers, essential workers and volunteers, who have been the best representatives of love and solidarity in the world," says Chen Zhongwei, general manager of Hengyuanxiang Group.

"We, the protected, hope to join hands and express our gratitude and love for the heroes on the front lines around the world."

Among the winning creations is a Chinese painting featuring auspicious flowers and birds by esteemed artist Zhang Qiubo. With the help of cutting-edge digital printing technology, Hengyuanxiang translated the image into print patterns on bed sheets that were presented to the families of medical workers and volunteers on May 20.

"We have learned about young couples postponing their weddings in order to join the medical teams on the front lines," says Guo Jianchen, the PR manager with Hengyuanxiang. "We wanted to present a gift that celebrates their selfless love for others, as well as the unwavering love between them."

In fact, sheets with auspicious patterns and colors are a traditional gift for new couples in China.

Veteran designer Mauro Ravizza Krieger from Italy, who has been a longtime friend of Hengyuanxiang Group, was an invited participant in the competition. He created a conceptual design of artistic masks inspired by paintings by Italian master artist Raphael.

"When the novel coronavirus broke out in Wuhan, you lived for two months in complete lockdown, and we tried to support you," he says in a video clip. "Now that Italy is in lockdown, you have been really warm in supporting the Italians."

This year marks the fifth centennial celebration of the death of Raphael. In Rome, an online exhibition showcasing the artist's work has been made available during the pandemic.

Krieger says he was interested in the "Love is Forever" competition because it brings people closer.

"It means we are together. We are in love and we have hope for the future. The situation will be better," he says.

Another winner in the competition is Yuan Nanzhou, a university graduate from the Chengdu Academy of Fine Arts in Sichuan province. The 22-year-old's creations feature flower patterns combined with Peking Opera imagery.

In his creation, Yuan borrowed the facial features of traditional Peking Opera characters such as Guan Yu, a heroic marshal in the Legend of the Three Kingdoms, and women fighters, presenting them among jade, folding fans, spears and flags depicted in contrasting colors.

Established in 1927, Shanghai-based Hengyuanxiang is one of China's leading textile groups that has more than 100 factories across the country manufacturing wool, bed linen, fabrics, clothing and household chemicals. The company is one of the official sponsors of the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.