Handmade Blue Calico Lifts Villagers out of Poverty

Luo Shasha, owner of a textile company, in the showroom, Shaoyang County, Central China's Hunan Province, July 14. [Xinhua]

Blue calico, first worn by farmers and fishermen, means blue cloth with white patterns or white cloth with blue patterns. The patterns are inspired by nature, consisting of symbols of animals, plants or figures from folklore. In modern times, blue calico is used to make daily clothing and bedding, and also a way to prosperity.

In Shaoyang County, Central China's Hunan Province, the handmade blue calico has also become an example of intangible cultural heritage, improving people's lives. The textile company, set up by Yang Caihong and her daughter Luo Shasha, now cooperates with 2,000 villagers to grow soybean and gallnut. A total of 200 local families have been lifted out of poverty so far.

A worker traces a pattern from a piece of blue calico, Shaoyang County, Central China's Hunan Province, July 14. [Xinhua]

A worker carves patterns on a printing plate, Shaoyang County, Central China's Hunan Province, July 14. [Xinhua]

A worker scraps away the dried soybean dregs from the finished blue calico, Shaoyang County, Central China's Hunan Province, July 14. [Xinhua]

A worker starches the fabric with soybean milk, Shaoyang County, Central China's Hunan Province, July 14. [Xinhua]

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)