Xiaoshan Lace

Xiaoshan Lace

Xiaoshan Lace is an intangible cultural heritage of Zhejiang Province.

　　Xiaoshan Lace, also known as Venetian Lace, originated in Venice, Italy. There are over 30 varieties, including bedspreads, table runners, plate mats, tea table mats, sofa covers, piano covers, shawls, dresses, and more. In the 1980s, handmade lacework flourished in Xiaoshan, with up to 200,000 lace artisans, many of whom became prosperous through this craft. There was even a saying among locals: “Lacework can build you a three-story villa.” The Taffeta Lace created in 1972 is an innovative light-industry lace product, featuring rich patterns and multiple layers, showcasing both craftsmanship and artistry. It is characterized by meticulous composition, diverse techniques and stitches, fine weaving, and elegant colors. On China’s lace market, over 80% of yarn art lace products come from Lou Tower Town in Xiaoshan, Hangzhou. Lou Tower has become the largest lace production base in the country, with Lou Tower-run showrooms in 173 prefecture-level and county-level cities nationwide, specialty lace stores in most provincial capitals, and 30% of yarn art products exported abroad. In 2005, Lou Tower Town exported over 300 million yuan worth of yarn art lace products, accounting for 25% of the industry’s total output value. The yarn art lace industry has become a pillar of wealth for local farmers. It is reported that last year, Lou Tower Town achieved annual sales exceeding 1.2 billion yuan.

　　Xiaoshan Lace is a renowned traditional handicraft from Xiaoshan, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, known for its unique craftsmanship and diverse varieties, named after Xiaoshan County as its birthplace. The hallmark of Xiaoshan Lace is its floral designs inspired by natural landscapes. Though not a long-standing tradition, Xiaoshan Lace was introduced from Italy in the early 1920s. Represented by hand embroidery, it grew into a major traditional industry in Xiaoshan. As the craft neared extinction in its place of origin, Venice, Xiaoshan Lace gained fame both domestically and internationally, earning Xiaoshan the title “Hometown of Lace in China.”

　　The main types of Xiaoshan Lace are Venetian Lace (made purely of cotton thread) and Edging Lace (a combination of Venetian Lace and embroidered fabric). Lou Tower Yarn Art Lace includes over 100 varieties such as curtains, tassels, ropes, plush decorations, and Velcro, with nearly 2,000 models of indoor decorative items, covering all woven crafts for home use. Currently, there are 1,575 individual producers and marketing enterprises engaged in lace production. The lace products are vibrant and abundant, forming a large-scale operation, making Lou Tower the largest lace production base in the nation. Lace has been a part of Lou Tower’s folk heritage for nearly a hundred years. Since the establishment of the specialized lace market, major enterprises in town have moved in, and all commercial spaces are now fully leased. Previously, most Lou Tower lace was sold through middlemen. With the new specialized lace market, customers are now attracted directly, allowing local lace businesses to engage with dealers face-to-face, which is more conducive to business growth. The town currently hosts 415 yarn art lace enterprises and 1,575 merchants, accounting for 18% of the total households, employing over 8,000 people. It has become a key industry for household prosperity, generating nearly two-thirds of the town’s total industrial output value annually.

　　The establishment of the specialized lace market facilitates information sharing among lace enterprises across the province and beyond, further enhancing Xiaoshan’s reputation as the “Hometown of Lace in China” and positioning it as a hub for the lace industry. Since the market’s opening, merchants from all over have flocked here, leading to active trade with four to five transactions occurring daily—the exact transaction volume is hard to quantify. The town hopes to leverage the market to nurture 100 leading enterprises with annual output values exceeding 5 million yuan, aiming for a total output value of over 2 billion yuan by 2007.

　　To consolidate the strengths of local lace enterprises and elevate their quality, the town repurposed idle factory buildings to build Zhejiang Province’s first specialized lace market, spanning 17,000 square meters with 90 market stalls. Located alongside the conveniently accessible Provincial Highway 03, near the Yiwu and Keqiao markets, it enjoys prime location advantages. Upon opening, over 40 merchants quickly claimed all available stalls. Each stall space costs 7,500 yuan, but the government leases them out for just 5,000 yuan per year, aiming to encourage the clustering of yarn art lace businesses and amplify their visibility as a flagship industry.