Your current location:HOME >sport >Young Woman Saving Traditional Dyeing Craft from Dying 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 23:25:03 Source: Internet compilationEdit:sport
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom
File photo taken on Oct. 25, 2019 shows Qi Hui (middle) purchasing hand-made embroidery from villagers in Yuntian Township, Dingxi City, northwest China's Gansu Province. [Xinhua/Lang Bingbing] |
LANZHOU, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) — In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs are often used to help treat illness. But in the hands of Qi Hui, the herbs can turn into works of art.
It is hard to believe that the beautiful colors of the wallets, scarves and handbags in Qi's studio are all dyed from herbs.
The 40-year-old inheritor of the time-honoured dyeing craft hails from Dingxi City, in northwest China's Gansu Province, where the craft with centuries-long history is now under county-level protection as a local intangible cultural heritage.
Dingxi boasts a myriad of herbal medicines. The local specialty, combined with China's tradition of hand-dyeing, leads to the birth of the old craft.
"When I was a child, my grandmother used to fork up the roots of plants grown in the mountains and then boil the roots to help dye clothing. I can still recall that lovely shade of orange of the clothing. I was captured by the charm of the traditional dyeing method," Qi said, adding that it was from her grandmother that she learnt ancient crafts including hand-dyeing, embroidery and paper cutting.
For Qi, dyeing with the help of natural herbs remains the most fascinating. "In modern society, it's common to use chemicals for dyeing. But the traditional way of extracting coloring pigments from herbs can be both fashionable and close to nature," said Qi.
The primitive method demands huge reserves of patience, as specific alkaline pigments must be boiled within an appropriate time period at around 20 degrees Celsius. "Even a one-minute nuance can result in the wrong color," Qi explained.
Such a perfect integration of the old craft and modern textiles soon won consumers' hearts. In 2016, with the support of the local government, Qi established her studio to produce more artwork using dyeing, embroidery and handbag making skills.
She also trained hundreds of rural women workers for free, hoping that their participation in the old tradition could help local women lead better lives. Wang Meier, a local villager, earned about 6,000 yuan (about 886 U.S. dollars) during her two-month training course in the studio.
"Young people are essential to the development of rural China. As a member of the young generation, I view devoting myself to the rural development cause as my long-term endeavor and commitment," Qi added.
In 2019, Qi registered a company to produce and sell handicrafts built upon the traditional dyeing method. More than 70 employees work in her company, including 60 casual workers who can embroider and dye clothing in their spare time without delaying daily farm work. The company has now received about 10,000 orders.
Qi is now head of Dingxi's intangible cultural heritage association. She plans to further explore the artistic value of the old dyeing craft.
"I hope that the traditional art could help spread traditional Chinese culture and allow more to be touched by its beauty. It's also my dream to help more women to earn a better life by their own hard work. The ancient craft can create way more value," Qi said.
(Source: Xinhua)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds2024-05-21 23:24
Xinjiang's RMB cross2024-05-21 23:11
Comicomment: Five Eyes alliance is the largest global intelligence agency2024-05-21 23:08
Shanghai taxis to accept foreign bank cards2024-05-21 23:07
Sarah Jessica Parker divides opinion with enormous hat on set of And Just Like That2024-05-21 22:55
Xi Sends Congratulatory Letter to Understanding China Conference2024-05-21 22:47
Inspired by the times2024-05-21 22:03
Xi Focus: Xi Calls for Giving Better Play to Constitution's Role in Governance2024-05-21 21:54
Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS2024-05-21 21:52
China's homegrown C919 jetliner flies to Singapore for airshow2024-05-21 20:54
Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed2024-05-21 23:19
Ethnic harmonies2024-05-21 23:17
Young people from many countries experienced intangible cultural heritage projects in Kunming2024-05-21 23:00
Xi Pledges to Work with Milei for Sound Development of China2024-05-21 22:46
Benedict Cumberbatch looks suave as he joins his co2024-05-21 22:37
Climate complicates heritage preservation2024-05-21 22:36
Xi Meets Chairman of Russian State Duma2024-05-21 22:30
Writing New Stories of China2024-05-21 22:19
Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle2024-05-21 21:36
Ethnic minority students participated in a fun campus game to welcome the Asian Games2024-05-21 20:57