Crafting a new opportunity

Male embroiderer Zhang Xue has inherited the traditional skills of Suzhou embroidery from his mother, Xue Jindi, and is revitalizing it with modern ideas and more creativity. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Xue is a local artist who has been doing embroidery for more than four decades. Some of her works were even sent to the Louvre Museum for the 19th International Cultural Heritage Show in 2013.

Explaining his role, Zhang says that while he lacks the skills and experience of his mother, he is exploring new possibilities for the handicraft.

Ideas know no bounds

Displaying his creativity, Zhang portrays the solar system by using more than 20 types of stitches to distinguish one planet from the others, and simultaneously adding a touch of modernity to the designs.

Zhang says there are more than 40 stitches in Suzhou embroidery, but less than 10 are used by embroiderers in their works based on traditional subjects.

"I was wondering how to bring these stitches to life, until one day I saw a documentary on the cosmos," he says.

"Then, I thought I could use these stitches to depict the orbits, the sun's rays and the planets."

To expand the market for embroidery products, Zhang wants to embellish headphones, watches and phone shells with delicate embroidery, which is inspired by the craft of jin xiang yu-jade inlaid with gold.