Nanzhao Tie-Dye

Nanzhao Tie-Dye

　　The tie-dye of Weishan in Nanzhao Town boasts distinctive ethnic traditional craftsmanship and was once named “Hometown of Chinese Tie-Dye Art – Weishan” by China’s Ministry of Culture. Since its debut at the Beijing International Trade Fair in 1985, Weishan tie-dye has enjoyed consistent market popularity, with its products exported to countries and regions such as Japan, South Korea, and Europe, among which a large quantity of tie-dyed kimonos are sold to Japan every year.

　　Tie-dye, anciently known as “jiaoxie,” became popular during the Qin and Han dynasties and reached artistic maturity in the Tang and Song periods. The craft spread from the Central Plains to Weishan over a thousand years ago. In modern society, Nanzhao Town still employs the most traditional production techniques, with the vast majority of processes requiring exquisite manual work, making tie-dye an art form renowned worldwide. In 1998, local artisans discovered that Eupatorium adenophorum, a plant growing in fields, could be used to dye yellow fabric. The resulting color was bright and vivid, resistant to fading, and carried a unique scent that helped repel mosquitoes. Originally a harmful weed, Eupatorium adenophorum was turned into a valuable resource in Weishan, greatly enriching the color palette of tie-dye and increasing its market appeal.

　　Nanzhao Town places great emphasis on exploring and developing this precious ethnic craft. As a result, tie-dye has transitioned from scattered household workshop production to industrialized manufacturing. By the end of 2007, the number of tie-dye enterprises had rapidly grown to six with export qualifications. Tie-dye has become a pillar industry in Nanzhao Town, shifting from a natural economy to a commodity economy. This development has given rise to many specialized villages for tying and separating patterns, forming a “company + farmer” industrial model. By the end of 2007, there were six tie-dye enterprises, employing 550 workers, generating an annual output value of 17.97 million yuan, and realizing profits and taxes of 3.12 million yuan.