Stitching a better future
With a passion for Yi embroidery, entrepreneur spreads the heritage while teaching skills to other women, giving them a sense of confidence and independence, Yang Feiyue reports.
By Yang Feiyue | China Daily | Updated: 2026-04-27 07:31
"Black stands for the earth and dignity. Red symbolizes fire and life. Yellow signifies sunshine and harvest," she explains.
According to Chen Xiaomei, a cultural researcher in Mabian, the region's Yi embroidery dates back nearly 2,000 years, a period when local Yi chieftains engaged in flourishing cultural exchanges with the Han and other ethnic groups.
By the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, the Yi people's clothing already showcased distinct regional features and class differences, Chen notes.
"One of the most distinctive features of Mabian Yi embroidery is its technique. The coiled stitch — using two needles simultaneously, one winding the thread, the other anchoring it — creates a raised, sculptural effect," she explains.
The lock stitch, varying in length and the angle of the "lock", produces different textures, giving Mabian embroidery a unique place among China's rich textile traditions, she adds.
Traditional pieces include the flame-patterned apron, symbolizing fire worship; the goat-horn-patterned cape, carrying wishes for good fortune; and the azalea garment, inspired by nature worship.
As a child, Qiaojin learned to stitch from her mother, as all Yi girls did. Her ambition was simple then: to embroider her own wedding dress one day.
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