Embroidery master helps rural women stitch a better life at home

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Song Haibo) news: "This embroidered flower represents good fortune. And those custom dance costumes over there are headed for Urumqi, so the stitching must be very fine."

On April 15, 2026, stepping into the Ma Lanmei Intangible Cultural Heritage Master Studio at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Base in Yanqi Hui Autonomous County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one could see a variety of products neatly displayed, including embroidered garments, cat-head pants, and tiger-head shoes.

Ma Lanmei (right) works on embroidery to fulfill orders in her studio. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Ma is a representative inheritor of Hui embroidery, an autonomous region level intangible cultural heritage item. She has dedicated nearly 50 years to this craft and has trained over 6,000 students, using her needle and thread to weave together heritage preservation and the path to a better livelihood for people of all ethnic groups.

Her deep connection with embroidery began in childhood. As a young girl, Ma was immersed in the craft at her mother's side, and she formed a lasting bond with it. At age six, she started learning stitching techniques from her mother. After she got married, her mother-in-law taught her the art of color matching for embroidery.

"My mother was skilled with stitches, and my mother-in-law had a gift for color. I combined the best of both," Ma said. Today, the craft has flourished within her family, with her daughter, her son, and her daughter-in-law all becoming inheritors.

Tiger-head shoes made by Ma Lanmei's studio are seen on display. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

It is precisely this skill passed down from the older generation that has given Ma a deep understanding of what inheritance truly means.

"I've been through the rain myself, so I want to hold an umbrella for others," she said. This simple statement has been her driving force for decades as she has tirelessly taught embroidery for free. She understands the difficulty rural women face in finding employment, especially those with young children and elderly parents who cannot leave home to work.

To help these women earn a living through embroidery without having to leave their homes, Ma has pursued a path of industrialization driven employment ever since she started her clothing company in 2004. She promotes a flexible company plus farmer model. When orders are small, women take materials home to work on. After they finish, Ma visits their homes to collect the finished products and settle payments. When orders are large, she organizes the embroiderers to work together in a professional workshop. This model ensures production efficiency while also accommodating the real needs of rural women who must care for their families.

Suo Hong and Suo Mei, sisters from Yongning Town, have worked with Ma for nearly ten years. They have grown from beginners who could not even handle basic stitches to capable core members of the team.

"When we first arrived, our stitching was very rough," Suo Hong said. "Sister Ma taught us step by step how to split threads and embroider, honing our skills." Today, the two sisters can not only skillfully complete various embroidery orders but also assist in guiding new students. Through this craft, they have achieved their simple wish of staying home, raising children, and earning money.

Ma Lanmei (fourth from left) teaches intangible cultural heritage embroidery in a community. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Rather than simply expanding production, Ma hopes more people can learn about Hui embroidery. In recent years, she and her apprentices have entered schools and communities every week to offer free embroidery classes and promote the craft.

"Children learn quickly and show great interest in embroidery," said Tuo Bin, Ma's daughter. "This craft has gained new vitality in their hands." In addition, they have also set up embroidery courses at local vocational schools to promote the skill in a more professional way.

"This year, through collaboration with partners, we plan to build a 2,000 square meter exhibition hall in the Xiong'an New Area to showcase our own embroidery designs. We hope Xinjiang's embroidery craft can reach even farther."

As the needle and thread rise and fall, Ma, now past her sixties, is embroidering a broader future with her colorful threads.

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