Apparel is showcased at the Nantong Huayi Tie-Dye Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

Nantong Huayi Tie-Dye Museum in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu province, embodies the dedication of Jiangsu Huayi Group, a costume designer and manufacturer with over 40 years of experience.

Nantong, celebrated as China's "hometown of textiles", has a thriving textiles industry. Huayi has firmly established itself within this sector, enhancing the "Made in Nantong" brand. Over the years, it has transformed from a traditional tie-dyeing company into a high-tech enterprise that integrates cultural creativity, artistic dyeing, and fashion design.

The museum features three main areas: the Tie-Dye Culture Exhibition Hall, the Huayi Art Gallery, and the Tie-Dye Cultural and Creative Zone. These spaces comprehensively showcase the beauty of tie-dye, inviting visitors on a journey through the aesthetics of intangible cultural heritage.

Historically known as "zha xie" in Chinese, tie-dyeing boasts nearly 2,000 years of history in China. The process employs a range of techniques like binding and knotting. Through precise knots and dips in vats of dye, unique patterns emerge.

Tie-dye products are displayed at the Nantong Huayi Tie-Dye Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

The Culture Exhibition Hall uses images, videos, artifacts, and interactive experiences to present this ancient tradition and its contemporary revival. The current special exhibition in the Huayi Art Gallery focuses on maternal love, blending Jiangnan's winding boards, contemporary female crafts, and tie-dye techniques. In the Tie-Dye Cultural and Creative Zone, visitors can explore a variety of traditional blue-and-white items and modern designs.

Visitors can also pre-book through the official WeChat account of the Nantong Huayi Tie-Dye Museum to participate in DIY projects on the fourth floor, such as creating tie-dye headbands, canvas bags, cloth dolls, and T-shirts, offering a hands-on experience of the art of tie-dyeing.