This Day, That Year

Item from Aug 21, 1988, in China Daily: China's traditional batik industry, formerly dominant on the international market, is struggling to hold on to its place as the number of batik producers in the world mushrooms. Batik cloth - printed by putting wax on the part not to be dyed and later removing it - has a long history in China.

Batik, a dye-blocking method used to create the traditional costumes of the Miao, Bouyei and Gejia people, has been gaining in fame in recent years and has an increasing number of enterprises paying attention - and even some art gallery support.

The ethnic groups' embroidery has appeared in many fashion exhibitions at home and abroad, showing the special place of the technique in the world of textiles.