The color of Qiang costumes reflect the folk traits and aesthetic mentality of the local people, and the study promote the ethnic translation and ethnic reconstruction of contemporary cultural and creative designs. Through literature review, field investigation and case study, the basic forms of traditional Qiang costumes such as color matching, embroidery themes and techniques are summarized. The representative colors and their representations are also concluded. The color paradigm, pattern implications and aesthetic imagery of "Shang Hong" and "Shang Bai" are analyzed. A new way of reconstruction for the "intangible cultural heritage" modern design is proposed in combination with the design concepts and aesthetic features of modern color science. The results show that the color of Qiang costumes has strong regional features, is decorative, symbolic, archaic and rough, and has a unique artistic style. The modern design paths of artistic construction, cross-border integration and "color contrast" can facilitate the integration of traditional aesthetics and modern fashion, enabling the organic combination of art, craftsmanship and products, which is beneficial to the modern innovation, inheritance and development of Qiang costume colors.