Yang Xue offers free embroidery lessons on Douyin, a short video-sharing platform popular in China. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]
For fans of the short video-sharing platform Douyin, Yang Xue is more than just an online celebrity – she is a skilled professional in Su Embroidery.
The 27-year-old woman has been practicing Su Embroidery for 11 years. She said she has spent more time practicing the ancient technique than with her parents. She was first exposed to embroidery in 2010 while traveling in Suzhou and was immediately struck by the elegance of the silk products and the passion of the embroiderers.
Yang decided to begin studying embroidery in Zhenhu town, the birthplace of Su Embroidery. Though her family initially opposed her decision and have called her a difficult child, Yang proved dedicated to the craft as she studied under master Pu Fengjuan.
Though studying embroidery is challenging and tedious, Yang has never thought of giving up. She said that portraits are the most difficult, as they require not only an even distribution of every thread, but also must vividly portray a variety of faces.
Yang's goal is to get more people interested in the time-honored art form. To realize this goal, she has begun offering free embroidery lessons on Douyin, with her popularity steadily increasing. Her video on how to thread a popular celebrity has been viewed nearly 10 million times and received 1.01 million likes.
Yang said she also teaches netizens how to buy and take care of silk products, and she has learned what is popular based on online demand.
Yang is innovative and has designed many impressive works, such as a wedding letter modeled after popular styles from the Republic of China period (1912-49).
"Suzhou Embroidery has already become a part of my life. I will continue to walk this road and bring this art to more people," Yang said.
