Handmade velvet flowers from Xinjiang find buyers nationwide

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Du Jianhui) news: On April 19, 2026, Yang Fangping sat at her table, silk threads as fine as hair dancing nimbly between her fingers. She twisted the silk, shaped it, and outlined the form with smooth and practiced movements. In just a moment, a lively velvet flower began to take shape.

On the table, velvet flowers, filigree round fans, and Hanfu button ornaments were neatly arranged. Though not displayed in a flashy way, they carried a warm everyday charm and the touch of a dedicated craftswoman. This small space of just 10 square meters is her studio, and more importantly, her stage for connecting past and present with silk threads and passing on intangible cultural heritage.

"These are all custom orders," said the 32-year-old Yang while sorting through bundles of colorful silk threads. "Once finished, the customers will come to pick them up. Only these samples and unfinished pieces are kept at home."

Yang Fangping displays a velvet flower headpiece inspired by the pear blossoms of Korla on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Du Jianhui)

Yang is originally from northwest China's Gansu Province. She came to Shihezi City with her family at age 10. Her fondest childhood memories are of the silk threads, red paper, and paintbrush in her mother's hands.

"I loved sitting by my mother's side and watching an ordinary silk thread turn into a beautiful ornament in her hands. That was when I first fell in love with the craft." This childhood passion took root deep in her heart and became her original inspiration for connecting with intangible cultural heritage.

To turn this passion into a lifelong career, Yang applied to an art academy, where she systematically studied fine arts foundations and design concepts. After graduation, she joined the team of a renowned Xinjiang fashion designer who was also a national top ten fashion designer.

To refine her skills, she traveled to Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, to systematically study Suzhou embroidery, growing step by step from an ordinary embroidery craftswoman to a senior craftswoman. She also joined her team in designing stage costumes for major events such as the 2015 CCTV Spring Festival Gala and a gala celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Yang recalled that the most unforgettable experience for her was an event titled "Atlas Shines on Kunlun." "We skillfully combined Xinjiang's signature fabrics with Suzhou embroidery and filigree techniques," she said, "allowing the flowing elegance of Atlas silk to interact with the refined subtlety of traditional crafts." It was this event that made her deeply understand that passing on intangible cultural heritage requires not only preserving the roots and the original character but also having the courage to innovate and keep pace with the times. And Xinjiang's rich ethnic culture, she realized, is the best source of inspiration.

Picking up an Atlas silk round fan decorated with dragon and phoenix motifs, one could immediately see the creative ingenuity behind it. The fan uses the unique texture of Atlas silk as a base, accented with pomegranate patterns symbolizing the unity of all ethnic groups. Traditional auspicious designs such as dragons, phoenixes, and peonies are delicately outlined with Suzhou embroidery, and filigree techniques are used to secure the fabric. Multiple ethnic cultures come together and coexist within this small handmade piece.

In Yang's view, passing on intangible cultural heritage has never been a solitary endeavor but a relay race involving many people. In 2018, she traveled to Yarkant County in Kashi Prefecture to work as a training instructor, teaching Suzhou embroidery techniques to local ethnic minority women.

"A single small silk thread," she said, "can not only pass on a craft but also pave the way to a better livelihood." During that period, she led a team of over 300 people in poverty alleviation through embroidery training, sharing her skills and creative experience without reservation.

In 2024, Yang moved to Korla to start her own business. Breaking away from traditional thinking and boldly innovating, she combined intangible cultural heritage techniques with modern aesthetics and everyday needs. She launched cultural and creative products such as brooches, head ornaments, and wedding decorations that are both practical and culturally meaningful. These products have turned intangible cultural heritage art pieces that once sat in exhibition halls into everyday items within easy reach of ordinary people.

"People love original works," Yang said. "Xinjiang has a very rich cultural atmosphere, which is particularly suitable for the growth of intangible cultural heritage." Her pieces are all handmade, and she also offers custom design services. Today, many local wedding companies and accessory shops have established long term partnerships with her, and many of the ornaments used in weddings and fashion shows come from her skilled hands.

Offline orders kept pouring in, and online sales channels were also expanding. Yang started live streaming, bringing viewers up close to watch the process of turning silk threads into velvet flowers and creating filigree patterns. Riding the wave of live streaming, her handmade accessories reached cities such as Shanghai and Tianjin.

At the same time, she took on outsourced craft work from fellow artisans and supplied products to offline partners on a commission basis. This led to a diversified business model combining live stream sales, custom orders, and outsourced production.

"More than ten local women and people with disabilities are now working with me," Yang said. "I teach them the techniques for free. They can work from home while taking care of their families, and they are paid per piece completed, so the more they work, the more they earn." Skilled artisans can earn up to seven or eight thousand yuan a month, truly achieving employment without having to leave home.

Yang is now busy looking for a suitable storefront. She plans to have her new studio up and running by June. "This new studio will integrate creation, display, training, and outsourced production," she said. "I want to build a database of distinctive patterns of Xinjiang, offer regular intangible cultural heritage training, help more people find employment, and deeply integrate ethnic elements with traditional crafts so that intangible cultural heritage can reach every household."

Twisting silk threads at her fingertips, Yang carries on the cultural legacy with a craftswoman's dedication. She believes that intangible cultural heritage is a precious cultural root left by previous generations. She will continue to practice her craft and encourage more fellow artisans to move forward together, so that traditional intangible cultural heritage can gain new vitality in this new era, passing down warmth from generation to generation.

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