Workers of Xihu Community in Shaoxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province are helping elderly residents' woven baskets sell better by incorporating young people's trendy design ideas to attract more customers.
The updated designs give the baskets a fresh look, turning them into highly sought-after items while preserving their traditional craft.
"I came by a couple of days ago and bought a basket, and it is really pretty. So I come back again to buy more for my friends, because these baskets are truly beautiful, stylish and well designed," said Ms. Sun, a customer at a basket store.
The basket makers are elderly residents of Xihu Community. While they possess the traditional skills to weave the baskets, their earlier products used outdated designs with limited use in daily life.
To give the traditional baskets a new look, local community workers partnered with art students to bring in young and fresh ideas.
"We will submit a design concept for the art students to review and evaluate, giving it a rating. If it receives a high rating, we will incorporate the design into the baskets," said Yao Hui, a student.
With young people's modern design concepts, these baskets are now crafted using traditional techniques but featuring updated designs that better fit everyday life for younger consumers.
To reach a broader market, the community also teamed up with professional operators to promote the baskets through short videos, live streaming and other online channels.
"We are pursuing a strategy that combines brand, story and promotion. By combining the traditional craftsmanship of the elderly and new promotional methods, we help them get tangible economic benefits," said Shi Yefeng, a community worker.
So far, nearly 2,000 baskets have been sold since May this year, enabling 68 elderly residents to increase income right in the community.
Zhejiang's community revamps woven baskets with inspired design to boosts sales
