Meet the families keeping craft alive

LOEWE is celebrating Chinese New Year by paying tribute to the country´s rich and diverse craft traditions that have been lovingly passed down through the generations. In a series of short documentary films, we met three artisan families from across China who typify this devotion to preserving the time-honoured skills and customs of their local regions.

The Art of Paper cutting

The art of paper cutting dates back to the 2nd century when paper was invented. The cut-outs often decorate doors and windows to symbolise luck and happiness. LOEWE travelled to the Northern Shaanxi province to meet two paper cutting folk artists who, as second and third generation successors to a paper cutting master, use their decorative patterns to illuminate spiritual connections between the area´s ancient and contemporary cultures.

The Art of Batik

It is a centuries-old technique of textile printing that uses wax to resist dyes to form intricate and dynamic patterns in the fabric. Batik has a great heritage in the Sandu county of southeast China, where LOEWE joined a pair of local siblings who are working tirelessly to carry on their batik family traditions. Depicting images of indigenous animals and plants, they make vibrant clothes, dresses and belts for their community that are often worn during times of ceremony and celebration.

The Art of Dim Sum

In Chinese dim sum means “touch the heart,” and these delectable bite-sized portions of food are traditionally served in steamer baskets as part of an afternoon tea. LOEWE visited Lu Bo Lang, located in the Yu Gardens of Shanghai, which is one of the most famous dim sum restaurants in China. Run by Lu Yaming, who took the reins from his master chef father Lu Goudu in 1984, he is the latest in his family line to give his heart over to the mastery of cooking and dim sum.