Needlework

BEIJING, June 8 ( tasteallchina ) -- In May, Axin and his mother embarked on a journey spanning nearly 9,000 kilometers from their home in Guizhou Province, the hinterland of southwest China, to London. With them, they took a selection of intricate and captivating embroidery works, a heritage art of the Miao ethnic people. The craftsmanship of Miao embroidery shown by the mother-son duo, donned in the traditional dress of the Miao, enthralled visitors at the 10th London Craft Week. Axin, a designer who infuses Miao elements into his fashion line, and his mother, a master embroiderer with five decades of needlework dedication, embody a broader narrative: an age-old craft from China's remote mountains gaining modern appeal, even international acclaim, with innovative minds. The Miao ethnic people have long expressed their rich cultural heritage through needle and thread, turning garments into "books on the body." This form of art was recognized in 2006 with its inclusion on China's inaugural national list of intangible cultural heritage. For years, Guizhou, home to a significant Miao population, has prioritized preserving this heritage art by promoting it as an industry. Through efforts ranging from support for entrepreneurship and training and management of embroiderers to…

At 43 years old, Wang Xinyuan stands as a distinguished and accomplished master of Guangdong embroidery, an art form deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry of south China’s Guangdong Province. With a rich embroidery career spanning three decades, Wang’s experience has earned him the honor of being a renowned representative and prominent figure in the craft and art of Guangdong embroidery. Despite Wang’s success, as a man who loves embroidery, he has encountered skepticism and ridicule. Nevertheless, his unwavering passion has carried him through these challenges. Photo shows a piece of embroidery work by Wang Xinyuan. (Photo/CCTV News) To achieve the desired thickness for his artwork and perfect his craft, Wang keeps his nails meticulously sharp and smooth, a necessity for splitting silk threads to the required thinness. This unique requirement frequently takes him to nail salons for specialized care, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings and bemused reactions among those around him. Wang’s journey into the world of embroidery, needles, and threads began in his childhood in a village in east China's Jiangxi Province, influenced by his family’s tailoring background. At just 13 years old, he discovered his passion for embroidery, though his interest and hobby often subjected him to…