Women from one of China's smallest ethnic groups are improving their livelihoods through traditional Dulong weaving techniques that have been passed down for generations.
The practice is carrying on strong in Dulongjiang, a remote township deep in the southwestern borderlands of China's Yunnan Province and home to around 4,000 members of the Dulong ethnic group.
Although Dulongjiang shook off extreme poverty in 2018 during China's nationwide campaign, its future remains a challenge. With limited arable land and deep isolation, large-scale farming is not viable, and industrial development is difficult to sustain.
However, the tradition of Dulong weaving has become a beam of light, changing the villages once geography-defined destiny. The women who practice the craft have been dubbed "the rainbow weavers." They embrace the concept of weaving deliberately, or "naze naze", which in their language means "slowly."
Recently, a group of designers from a Shanghai-based fashion house visited villager Jin Chunhua's home, to discuss business. Their collaboration with the weavers began in 2015, and Jin was among the first 10 women to join.
"By a coincidence, we discovered that Dulong women were still weaving at home, making clothes or decorations for furniture," said Tu Jiachen, Naze Naze content specialist for Shanghai Suran Brand Management Company.
"We saw their skills could work with our fashion company. They know their techniques best. We work with their fabric, and bring it to a larger market," said product specialist Shao Ruowen.
After that, the fabric began traveling far beyond the mountains, to distant cities, and even to customers overseas.
"At that time, I went from house to house, notebook and pen in hand, convincing other women to join," said Jin.
One by one, more women picked up the loom and began refining their craft. Now, around 500 Dulong women work from their homes.
Each woven piece brings the women around 70 dollars. Their creativity, in turn, is giving the company fresh momentum in the marketplace.
"Our customers really love the colors weaver Qiumei designed. Before, most of the color work was done by us, but this year we're trying something new, letting the women design all the color palettes themselves," said Shao.
"Since I started weaving, I've had the chance to see the world beyond the mountains, traveling to Beijing and Shanghai. Everything at home has been bought with the money we earned ourselves," said Jin.
As a result of their success, new ideas are taking root across the valley.
"I've also started my own social media account, sharing the stories here, hoping to draw more tourists to our valley," said Yang Weibin, first Party secretary of Dizhengdang Village of Dulongjiang Township.
At present, effort is visible across the region, as construction projects hire locals close to home, the electricity grid continues to expand, roads are being upgraded, drones deliver supplies deep into the mountains, and more partnerships appear on the horizon.
Tu and Shao also distributed red envelopes of cash -- a Spring Festival holiday tradition in China -- to the villagers who have been cooperating with them for over 10 years, expressing their gratitude for their sincere cooperation.
"I hope the next 10 years will be even better than today. And in the next decade, we’ll keep working hard and striving forward," said Jin.
Remote village residents in Yunnan earn better life as ethnic tradition meets fashion
