HAIKOU, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Beginning in 2022, Buli Bushe Clothing Culture Co., Ltd. has been exhibiting and selling traditional Li ethnic clothing in Maona Village, Wuzhishan City, south China's Hainan Province. Business is good, with apparel and cultural products featuring Li ethnic elements in high demand.

"I think at the beginning, people were just looking around out of curiosity, but now they are buying our products enthusiastically and enjoying Li brocade techniques, which made me feel that the Li brocade culture is truly thriving," said Chen Mengli, who is in charge of the company.

Often referred to as a "living fossil" of the textile industry, Li textile techniques have been practiced for more than 3,000 years by Hainan's Li ethnic group, ranking among the oldest cotton spinning methods in the world.

This intricate art form combines ancient practices of spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery to produce vibrant fabrics embellished with exquisite patterns and unique textures. Recognized as a world-class intangible cultural heritage, Li brocade stands as a testament to a rich and enduring cultural legacy.

In December last year, UNESCO inscribed the traditional Li textile techniques of spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The techniques were already included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2009.

Behind the growing passion for Li brocade are persistent protection and inheritance efforts.

In Hainan, the number of inheritors of Li textile techniques has grown to more than 20,000, and more than 100 primary and middle schools across the province have launched Li brocade classes, according to the latest figures from the provincial department of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

Authorities have also formulated a "five-year action plan" to protect and develop traditional Li brocade skills, aiming to elevate its industrial development.

As a national-level inheritor of Li textile techniques, Liu Xianglan teaches Li brocade-making skills to children in local schools in Wuzhishan.

Liu is also in charge of a local workshop, which not only provides training, but also teaches local women about product design and gives them orders for Li brocade, easily increasing their income.

"Local rural women who used to farm at home have now learned or improved their traditional Li textile skills, which not only passes on the Li culture and the craftsmanship of our ancestors, but also increases their incomes and improves their quality of life," Liu said.

Li brocade is also enjoying more international attention these days.

Liu Weitong, another Li brocade inheritor, brought Li brocade to Paris Fashion Week this year.

"After discussing with the designers, they incorporated our Li brocade patterns into their creations, using the traditional motifs as a foundation for their designs," Liu said. "Seeing our Li brocade patterns shine on the runway at Paris Fashion Week was truly incredible."

Liu Weitong hopes that more children will get to know and understand the Li culture.

"I hope that more young people will like Li brocade in the future," she said. ■