Suzhou Embroidery

Let's take a closer look at the essential instruments employed in the craft of Suzhou embroidery.

These remarkable embroidery pieces are hailed as great works of art, and many of them demand an extensive commitment, taking from a year to a year and a half to complete. They are often sold for thousands of dollars, and while smaller pieces are available at a more affordable price point

The system of symbolism extended to official gowns, with rank patches, known as "buzi" in Chinese, adorning the front and back. These embroidered rank patches featured an array of animals, each design signifying the wearer's position

By amalgamating her diverse experiences, including Japanese embroidery techniques and Western sketching and oil painting methods from Europe and America, Shen set a groundbreaking standard for Chinese embroidery.

In Suzhou, the needles used by embroidery artists were akin to the brushes wielded by painters. The meticulousness, patience, and gentleness that characterized the people of Suzhou manifested in every stitch and thread.

"Silk embroidery" - an ancient Chinese artistry - has long dwelled in obscurity in the West, its intricate beauty and unparalleled craftsmanship hidden in plain sight

Chinese double sided embroidery, also known as double sides embroidery or two-faced embroidery, is a technique in which stitching takes place on both sides of a single transparent silk fabric. The design shows on both sides