1. Find a few local artisans/crafts people from your region. Mention why their practice is interesting to you and how is it situated in the larger context of making.

Summerwood Fabrics

Summerwood is the name of a brand whose focus is reviving the tradition of Chinese grass-cloth, xiabu, one of the strongest natural fibers in the world.

Xiabu is hand spun from ramie and loomed by skilled artisans. The authentic ramie has been the main crop used for textiles since thousands of years ago until cotton was introduced to China. Though China still produces 90% of the world's ramie, the techniques of processing and weaving ramie have almost been forgotten in the country for decades.

Two things about this grass-cloth fabric that really interest me are:

1. Characteristics of the textile itself have an impact on the design of its products -

"Unlike fabrics woven on modern machines, the width of handmade grass cloth is limited to the widths of handlooms, which are usually narrow and varied, However, if you look at our traditional clothing, the Japanese Kimonos, or the Korean Hanbok, they are all designed sophisticatedly based on the narrow widths of the fabrics." — Yi, Founder of Summerwood Fabrics

1. The textile of clothes builds a relationship between humans and their clothes - Most the new clothes made from this kind of grass-cloth, xiabu, don't have a smooth and soft surface. Instead, they are raw and rough, so it's not quite comfortable to wear them the first few times. It makes your skin feel a bit tingling, which seems like the material has its own spirit of rebelling. However, as the amount of time you wear it increases, they become more soft and comfortable lying on your skin. Wearing it needs your patience, understanding and kindness, which encourage you to grow and refine yourself with your clothes. I believe this is also one of the most elegant perspectives in Eastern philosophy.

About Craftsmen:

Summerwood works closely with local spinners, weavers, and dyers. All fabric dye is derived from local plants and herbs. What they are doing is adopting modern innovation with traditional craftsmanship, co-operating with other independent brands and artisans, and making organic products to promote an ecological lifestyle. I hope in the future Summerwood can open up a larger domestic market in China and eventually introduce various grass-cloth products to the world.

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2. Create something using cardboard (in a public space)