Buyi ethnic group's homemade coarse cloth

Last updated 2026-11-12 — Zhouqian Town, known as the hometown of homemade coarse cloth, produces this fabric entirely by hand through a meticulous process undertaken by local Buyi women. They use high-quality cotton and traditional tools such as spinning wheels and wooden pedal looms. The production involves spinning the thread – dyeing the thread – starching the thread – warping the loom – weaving – drying – stitching – pounding smooth – and finishing. This traditional textile from Sandu has long been renowned for its authenticity. Products made from this cloth, such as bed sheets, are made of pure cotton, feature handwoven textures and ethnic patterns. They offer practical benefits such as keeping warm in winter and cool in summer, breathability, sweat absorption, anti-static properties, mite and itch prevention, resistance to fraying and pilling, regulation of metabolism, and effective UV protection. Additionally, they hold unique cultural and collectible value as expressions of ethnic artistry. In 1985, the county’s foreign trade company organized the production of homemade coarse cloth in Zhouqian Town, exporting 28,856 meters to Japan and earning over 20,000 US dollars in foreign exchange.