[Well-off China] Gansu peasant women’s "embroidery life": traditional needlework has gradually become a "fingertip economy"
[Explanation] Under the needle thread of the embroidered woman Mi Yinping, a palm-sized piece of fabric has gradually become an embroidery work with the theme of the Zodiac.
Mi Yinping is a villager in Zhenyuan County, Qingyang City, Gansu Province. Like most rural women, she helped her mother share housework since she was a child. She learned needlework when she was about 10 years old. Now, what surprises her is the original life Skills have become a big ability to support the family.
[Concurrent] Mi Yinping, Embroidered Girl, Zhenyuan County, Qingyang City, Gansu
I used to do sewing and mending at home, but I didn't expect it to be a manual needlework (craft) to make money.
(Now) I am very happy to do embroidery with you all day, and I can take care of my children and take care of my home.
[Explanation] Ren Yanyan, who is in her early 40s, has a keen interest in embroidery since she was a child.
She was able to embroider insoles and weave sachets when she was young, so when she was studying clothing design at university, she also studied embroidery skills. After years of experience and self-exploration, she was proficient in various embroidery skills.
Despite this, Ren Yanyan still didn't know enough about the business opportunities in embroidery, but she seemed to know the hidden business opportunities.
[Concurrent] Ren Yanyan, Embroidery Girl in Zhenyuan County, Qingyang City, Gansu
In the past, when our (embroidery) products were sold out, the consumer group was still limited. Some young people did not like our (embroidery) products because the color tone was (poor), and the workmanship might not be exquisite enough.
[Explanation] It is reported that Zhenyuan County has organized and implemented a training program for cultural industry practitioners and hired experts to train embroidery and paper-cutting artists with the goal of turning the cultural industry into a pillar industry in the county.
Because of this, Ren Yanyan's embroidery skills and business ideas have qualitatively improved.
In 2017, Ren Yanyan established a company integrating embroidery product design, research and development, and sales, motivating more than 1,000 impoverished women in surrounding towns and villages to engage in embroidery work, and some of their embroidery works were sold abroad.
[Concurrent] Ren Yanyan, Embroidery Girl in Zhenyuan County, Qingyang City, Gansu
Using our traditional patterns and flower patterns as a carrier, we made some practical products on women's bags, and made some color matching, and then the patterns and appearance models were all re-developed and designed. There are 4 major categories of embroidery products, with a total of more than 100 (products). When there is no (new crown pneumonia) epidemic, our products are exported to Russia and Europe.
[Explanation] Ren Yanyan told reporters that nowadays, embroidery works are different from the roughness of the past "big red and big green". The style is light, the color is fresh, and the artistic value is more prominent.
Vivid animal embroidery, tranquil and beautiful landscape patterns...The embroidery works born in the mountains and valleys of the Loess Plateau have evolved from "inconspicuous handmade needlework" to "cultural industry". Great changes have taken place, and they have gradually gone to sea. Welcomed by overseas markets.
Ai Qinglong and Yan Jiao show up in Qingyang, Gansu
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]