Let Parents Stay: Reviving Han Embroidery in Jinling Village

Preserving Tradition and Empowering a Community

Jinling Village, home to over 2,000 "left-behind" children, was once a poverty-stricken community struggling to find economic opportunities. However, upon arriving in the village, Yu Chen discovered that the locals possessed a deep knowledge of Han Embroidery, a traditional craft that had been passed down through generations. Despite their expertise, the artisans faced challenges in selling their products due to outdated designs.

Determined to help revive the local Han Embroidery culture, Yu Chen partnered with the Hubei Han Embroidery Association. Together, they embarked on a journey to modernize the craft and create a sustainable source of income for the village.

One of the key innovations introduced by Let Parents Stay is a modern typeface created by extracting elements from traditional embroidery patterns. By deconstructing the texture and aesthetics of Han Embroidery, Yu Chen developed a new visual language that bridges the gap between tradition and modernity. The typeface serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Jinling Village, preserving the craft in a contemporary form.

Through the collaboration with local artisans, the Let Parents Stay project has not only revitalized the Han Embroidery industry but also empowered the community. By incorporating the extracted elements into the typeface, poverty-stricken embroidery workers were able to embroider letters using their traditional techniques. This not only provided them with a sustainable livelihood but also allowed them to showcase their skills to a wider audience.

The Let Parents Stay project also addressed some of the challenges faced by traditional Han Embroidery. The craft had long production cycles, high time costs, low economic benefits, and limited consumer recognition due to outdated designs. By abstracting and reconstructing classic elements, Let Parents Stay brought a fresh perspective to the traditional patterns, making them more appealing to modern aesthetics and increasing consumer interest.

For its outstanding contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and the empowerment of a community, Let Parents Stay was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2021. This prestigious accolade recognizes designs that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and a commitment to improving quality of life through art, science, design, and technology.

Let Parents Stay is not just a design project; it is a symbol of hope and resilience. By reviving the Han Embroidery culture in Jinling Village, Yu Chen has not only preserved a traditional craft but also empowered a community to create a better future for themselves and their children.