Ethnic Yi embroidery caters to modern tastes

Handmade embroidery could take a month to finish and could easily fetch up to 5,000 yuan in Wang Zonghui's shop. [Photo by Yang Feiyue/China Daily]

Liu Guifang, 50, who has been working with Wang for four years now, says: "I initially did embroidery at home for myself and my babies, and it did not occur to me that I could sell the work for money."

But like most local women, Liu only knew how to do simple patterns, until she was taught by Wang to do complex designs.

Liu, who typically does embroidery for Wang when she has free time, says: "I might spend eight hours doing it if I don't have any farming to do."

The freelance work yields her more than 1,000 yuan a month.

Meanwhile, as more women get involved in the business, some have set up shop on their own.

And the local government has created an embroidery street in Sayingpan to protect the art and boost its development.

As of now there are more than 10 embroidery shops along the street.

In addition, more than 100 peddlers set up temporary shops to hawk their products during local fairs, which are held mostly on Thursdays and Sundays.

Also, the range of products on offer has grown.

Now, in addition to costumes, local embroidery is also seen on covers for TVs, refrigerators and on pillow covers and bedspreads.

The most common patterns are a phoenix flying across peony cluster, butterflies playing with plum blossoms, a rhinoceros watching the moon and two dragons fighting for treasure.

Speaking about the quality of the work, Wang says: "Good work should have variations in needle technique and consistent density. The more the density, the more durable the work is."

As for pricing, she says there is a lot of difference between handmade and machine-made pieces.

"It might take only an hour or two to finish a vest embroidery using a machine, but handmade work could take a month," Wang says.

Machine-made pieces also don't have subtle changes in texture.

A piece of handmade embroidery at Wang's shop can easily fetch up to 5,000 yuan.

Wang, who was named an art master in October, 2016, and often lectures at art schools in Kunming, has her own methods to ensure quality is maintained.

"If I find works below par I deduct money from the makers and teach them (the women) how to correct the work and improve."