Chinese Artists Are Creating Beautiful Silk Embroidery Using Traditional Techniques

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

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When art enthusiast Ying H turned 30, she quit her job to travel the world and rediscover what made her truly happy. During this time of self-exploration, Ying reconnected with her Chinese heritage, which she says she neglected for most of her life. This sparked an idea for a new path, and Ying founded the online store Yingifts, which showcases traditional silk embroidery by dozens of Chinese artists.

Among the many different designs featured on the website are cherry blossoms, soaring cranes, lilies, fruits, peacocks, and dragons. Some silk embroideries are kept in wooden hoops, while others are affixed to fans. Those that are double-sided feature the same design on both sides—a technique that requires considerable skill and patience.

“I grew up in China, but never appreciated traditional Chinese culture as a little girl,” Ying explains. After she began changing her life, however, Ying saw an opportunity to share the beauty of her heritage. She contacted artists across China who practice traditional silk embroidery and asked if she could distribute their masterpieces through her Canada-based store. One of the artists, named Yinling Yao, is 95 years old and has been practicing double-sided embroideries since she was 5.

Ying hopes that by promoting the beauty of this traditional, skillful art she can help prevent it from disappearing. To purchase one of these stunning embroidery pieces you can visit Yingifts' Etsy shop.

Art enthusiast Ying founded an online embroidery collective called Yingifts, featuring stunning examples of traditional Chinese embroidery.

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Yingifts showcases artwork made by dozens of different artisans.

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

They embroider intricate designs onto sheets of delicate, transparent silk.

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Chinese Embroidery by Yingifts

Yingifts: Website | Etsy | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Yingifts.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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