Su Jinfang is busy weaving homespun cloth. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Su Jinfang, born in Haimen, Nantong, Jiangsu province, in 1949, was honored as a national-level practitioner of Nantong homespun cloth making techniques, alongside four other craftsmen from Nantong.

Su's enlightenment about the techniques originated from her childhood. "At that time, almost all the young girls in the village were learning to weave," she recalled. With guidance and meticulous instruction from her mother, she mastered the complete set of skills for making homespun cloth, becoming a skilled weaver in the local community.

Throughout her weaving career spanning over half a century, Su rooted herself in tradition, mastering and excelling in the art of weaving using traditional foot-treadle and hand-operated wooden looms. She revived the eight-harness loom weaving technique, which had been absent from Nantong's historical practices for nearly fifty years, and recreated patterns that had long been forgotten.

Homespun cloth-made decorations. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Building upon traditional practices, she drew inspiration from contemporary dyeing and weaving achievements to create hundreds of new patterns, designs, and techniques for homespun fabric, elevating Nantong's folk homespun weaving craft to new heights. She has also been involved in activities for passing down the tradition of homespun fabric, bringing the craft into schools, and engaging in related interactive events to promote traditional craftsmanship.

In recent years, many visitors have sought to learn from her, but few young individuals have been able to persevere. Su underscores that the craft necessitates patience and meticulous attention to detail, advising against the pursuit of swift gains. "I hope more young people will come to appreciate and enjoy Nantong's homespun cloth. As long as they are interested and willing to learn, I am more than happy to teach them."