Page 4 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (111)

03 VOICE | 声音

Literary and artistic creation should not only be based on contemporary life but also cultural traditions. As the old saying
goes, “If you want a tree to grow tall, help it grow strong roots; if you want a river to flow far, help its source flow smoothly.”
——Chinese President Xi Jinping

文艺创作不仅要有当代生活的底蕴，而且要有文化传统的血脉。“求木之长者，必固其根本；欲流之远者，必浚其泉源”。

——中国国家主席习近平

Crafting ingenuity with nimble

stitches

飞针走线绣巧思

By Lin Lihua □ 林丽华 / 文

Amidst the misty tea mountains of Gelanghe Hani Township in
Xishuangbanna’s Menghai County, Eryan, an inheritor of Hani ethnic
clothing and a representative county-level intangible cultural heritage,
meticulously guides her needle and thread. On vibrant fabrics, she in-
tricately embroiders elements from daily life, the celestial paths of the
sun, moon, and stars, and the epic migration history of her ancestors.
This April, at the Xishuangbanna Dai Water-Splashing Festival’s
cultural and creative bazaar, Eryan’s stall featuring Hani elements drew
significant tourist attention. Her improved and innovative Hani garments
skillfully blend traditional styles with contemporary trends. Visitors
were particularly captivated by Hani embroidery cultural and creative
products such as phone bags, earrings, headwear, and ties. Eryan per-
sonally designs all these products, drawing inspiration from traditional
Hani Akha costumes and seamlessly integrating modern fashion
concepts to create pieces perfect for contemporary daily life. This
fusion has successfully made traditional Hani clothing “trendy”
and secured its place in the market.
Growing up in a Hani village in Gelanghe Township, Eryan de-
veloped an early passion for Hani embroidery. Through diligent study
and practice, she mastered numerous embroidery, sewing, and color
matching techniques, subsequently focusing on the improvement and
innovation of Hani clothing. In 2018, Eryan founded the “Hani Kang-
bo” brand, whose products exhibit a bold and innovative style, from
the initial spinning of thread and weaving of fabric to the final embroi-
dery, sewing, and color application. “The concept of ‘all things having
spirit and beauty’ influenced me since childhood, forming a strong
foundation for innovative clothing design,” Eryan explained, sharing
her original intention for improving and innovating Hani garments.
“My hope is for Hani clothing to continuously evolve, allowing more
people to appreciate these garments and understand Hani culture.”
The “Hani Kangbo” brand has presented new collections annually
since its inception. A highlight of its journey, from 2020 to the present,
Eryan has consistently featured her modernized Hani garments on the run-
ways of diverse ethnic fashion weeks. Her notable success includes win-
ning the “Best Styling Award” and “Most Popular Apparel Award” at the
“Silk Road Kunming Fashion Week” for an impressive three consecutive
years. Furthermore, Eryan’s talent has led her to become a signed designer
for the China Ethnic Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion Week, cement-
ing her growing recognition and popularity with consumers.
While advancing her personal career, Eryan has also actively or-
ganized workshops for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) skills, youth
night schools, and ICH outreach programs in schools. She has em-
braced the responsibility of preserving these traditional crafts, aiming
to engage more young people and deepen their understanding of Hani
ethnic costumes. The “Hani Kangbo” brand currently employs nearly
200 Hani embroidery artisans, continuously contributing to rural revi-
talization efforts.