Guangzong Handwoven Cloth

Guangzong Handwoven Cloth

　　Guangzong handwoven cloth, commonly known as "laocubu" or "old coarse cloth," originates from Guangzong County in Hebei Province, renowned as the “Hometown of Chinese Folk Art.” This "old coarse cloth" boasts a history of several thousand years, with cotton weaving dating back to the Tang Dynasty. It is meticulously woven by hand, strand by strand (with over 3,000 shuttle passes per meter), embodying the sweat and heartfelt dedication of the weavers. Herein lies the labor and genuine emotion of its makers—a value that cannot be assessed by price alone, reminiscent of the lines from the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao’s “Song of the Parting Son”: “The thread in the hands of a fond-hearted mother / Makes clothes for the body of her wayward boy. / Carefully she sews and thoroughly she mends, / Dreading the delays that will keep him late from home. / Who can say the heart of the inch-high grass / Can repay the boundless love of the spring sun?” It reflects deep maternal affection and unwavering devotion. The craftsmanship of handwoven cloth is intricate, involving a total of twelve procedures: twisting ornamental knots, spinning thread, twisting strands, dyeing the thread, starching the thread, reeling the thread, warping, printing on the fabric, setting the reed, threading the harness, assembling the loom, and weaving. Old coarse cloth possesses irreplaceable benefits compared to machine-woven textiles. The end products are free from pollution, have excellent air permeability, absorb sweat, offer elasticity, are soft and comfortable, keep warm in winter and cool in summer, resist static electricity, block UV rays effectively, are resistant to radiation, and offer high skin compatibility. Additionally, the coarse threads and deep patterns create countless massage-like contact points across the fabric surface, offering unexpected skin-soothing benefits. It is a purely natural, green, and health-oriented cotton fabric with very high utility value. Made entirely of pure cotton yarn and crafted entirely by hand, it is genuinely green, environmentally friendly, and natural—with zero industrial contamination. In the 1930s, Li Rongkai, Vice President of the Central Bank, presented Guangzong handwoven cloth to his teacher, Kong Xiangxi. So captivated was Kong that he personally named it “Shaqiu Hanjin.” In 2009, Guangzong’s traditional weaving techniques were inscribed on the provincial intangible cultural heritage list. In an era where people are embracing nature and seeking green alternatives, old coarse cloth stands out once more with its substantial hand feel, skin-friendly comfort, thermal regulation, breathability, sweat absorption, and anti-static features—making it a preferred choice in fabrics.