Summer cloth embroidery

Female embroiders do the stitchwork on summer cloth, which is handcrafted by using ramie or grass linen, in Fenyi county, Xinyu, East China's Jiangxi province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Dubbed the "hometown of summer cloth", Fenyi county in Xinyu, East China's Jiangxi province has been a renowned site for bast and leaf fiber-spinning since ancient times.

Summer cloth refers to cloth handcrafted by using ramie or grass linen. Xinyu has a 5,000-year history of ramie plantation.

The cloth is breathable, mildew proofed, fungi-resistant, and most importantly contains no additives. It is very popular with the pregnant, infants, and people with requirements for high-quality life.

A national intangible cultural heritage item, summer cloth embroidery has become a pillar cultural industry in Xinyu.

Jiangxi Ramie Cloth Culture Communication Co Ltd has been listed as a provincial base in Jiangxi to promote skills related to this craft. Its founder Xu Xiaomei has been engaged in stitchwork for 48 years.