Handwoven Ramie - Fifth generation artisan Master Tan shares his story

Would you believe me if I told you there were some 20 steps involved just in the making of the fabric? Or that it takes about 6 months to make 30m of this fabric? Ramie, a linen-like fibre derived from the stalks of the Chinese nettle plant, has been cultivated and used in China for many centuries. Often regarded as the queen of bast fibres, ramie is known for its strength and silky luster in the finished fabrics, as well as its resistance to wrinkling, shrinking, and mildew. Although it’s got so many wonderful qualities plus being one of the oldest natural fibres, it has had its challenges finding popularity in modern industry, probably largely due to its time-consuming, highly manual process. Our interview with fifth-generation artisan, Master Tan (谭智祥), shares what he’s seen over the years and how he’s trying to keep these traditions alive! -- If you are interested in learning more about these traditional techniques and stories, or to support these talented artisans, please follow us for more! 💙 Handwoven Ramie Collection: https://slowmaking.com/collections/ra... Website: https://www.slowmaking.com Instagram:   / slowmakingco   Pinterest:   / slowmaking   #artisan #craftsmanship #slowmaking #intangiblecultralheritage #howtodecor #artandcraft #traditions #ramie #handwoven #chinesecraftsmen #xiabu