Shu brocade reignites fashion industry in China

Shu brocade is weaving its way into the future of Chinese cultural confidence as designers in southwest China's Sichuan Province blend this intangible cultural heritage with contemporary styles, creating a surge in demand that has turned the fabric into a luxury trend.

As the main production hub of this fabric, Sichuan's provincial capital Chengdu is now integrating this traditional craft with modern fashion items.

With the help of e-commerce platforms and cross-border exhibitions, Shu brocade garment companies have built a global sales network.

One company, which only started its Shu brocade business in November last year, has achieved daily sales of 100,000 yuan (13,957 U.S. dollars) to 150,000 yuan (20,935 U.S. dollars) within seven months.

Supported by the coordinated development of the textile industry, digital economy and fashion sector, Shu brocade clothing has become a new fashion trend in western China.

Currently, China's fashion consumption is moving toward building a brand ecosystem that reflects cultural confidence.

Intangible cultural heritage skills like Shu brocade are being transformed into fashion elements, fostering deeper industrial chain integration through diverse application scenarios.

"Chengdu has rolled out policies to promote the high-level preservation and high-quality development of Shu brocade and Shu embroidery. In the second half of this year, Chengdu will also host events like the Chengdu Fashion Week and the Chengdu Fashion Industry Development Conference to guide traditional consumer goods industries toward transformation into the fashion sector," said Xiong Danyi, director of the Light Industry Division of the Chengdu New Economic Development Commission under the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Economic and Information Technology.

The Shu brocade holds a significant position as one of the world's earliest brocade fabrics.

In China, the Shu brocade, together with the Song brocade, Yun brocade, and Zhuang brocade, are listed as the four most famous brocades.

Weaving brocade is a highly intricate and labor-intensive craft that demands exceptional skill and patience. According to the historical records from the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), "it takes 60 days to weave around 33 meters of brocade." Even the experienced weavers at that time could only weave about 13 centimeters of brocade in a day.

Shu brocade reignites fashion industry in China

People in Yemen are struggling for survival as the country continues to grapple with a deepening labor crisis after more than a decade of war, with many lamenting the lack of opportunities which are leaving the livelihoods of many hanging in the balance.

As the world marks International Workers' Day on Friday, the situation in Yemen seems all the more poignant as millions of people are finding it increasingly hard to find any work at all.

In the crowded streets of the capital Sana'a, workers gather on street corners, waiting for jobs that may never come. Ahmed Muawadah is one of the many who are sitting here, watching passing cars, desperately hoping that one will stop and offer work.

"Our suffering is that we sit here without work. Sometimes we spend a whole month without working, except for one day, or just one day every two weeks. Work is very limited, almost non-existent. I have nine children, and I only work one day a month. I cannot support them. Jobs have completely disappeared. If opportunities were opened for us, I and all the workers would work," said Muawadah.

This individual story reflects a broader reality affecting an estimated eight million workers across Yemen. Many of them are hoping to receive a daily wage, but the challenges are mounting in an increasingly strained labor market.

Activity in key sectors such as construction and services has dropped sharply, largely due to the suspension of several international initiatives, including those backed by the World Bank. As a result, income opportunities have narrowed for those who rely primarily on daily wages.

Meanwhile, the widening impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the disruption caused along the key Strait of Hormuz -- a key shipping route for global trade -- has brought more misery in recent weeks.

"There has been a significant decline in business activity as a result of the war, the blockade, and the disruption of work. Foreign capital has also left the country, and large companies have moved out of Yemen and stopped their operations. This is one of the main reasons," said Abdul Karim Al, secretary general of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Sana'a.

Yemen residents struggling to survive as work dries up amid deepening labor crisis