* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, August 22, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

    Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    What Are Our Predictions for Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Based on What She’s Told Us So Far? – yahoo.com

    Uncover the Hidden Surprises in Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ – Can You Decode Her Clues?

    Bama Dining Serving Up New Food, Entertainment – UA News Center

    Bama Dining Launches Thrilling New Food and Entertainment Experiences

    The latest on Williams-Brice Stadium renovations, entertainment district – On3

    Discover the Thrilling New Upgrades Coming to Williams-Brice Stadium and Its Vibrant Entertainment District!

    1000+ Entertainment Leaders Release Open Letter Criticizing TIFF’s Handling of Film – Creative Community for Peace

    1000+ Entertainment Leaders Release Open Letter Criticizing TIFF’s Handling of Film – Creative Community for Peace

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

    Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Teaching older adults how to use technology – WWNY

    Empowering Older Adults to Master Technology with Confidence

    Denver man receives pacemaker using new technology – CBS News

    Denver Man’s Life Transformed by Revolutionary Pacemaker Technology

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    YSU to celebrate launch of new radiology technology program – WKBN.com

    YSU Launches Exciting New Radiology Technology Program Celebration

    Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology kicks off return to school for Lancaster County colleges [photos] – LancasterOnline

    Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Kicks Off an Exciting New School Year for Lancaster County Colleges [Photos]

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

    Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    What Are Our Predictions for Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Based on What She’s Told Us So Far? – yahoo.com

    Uncover the Hidden Surprises in Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ – Can You Decode Her Clues?

    Bama Dining Serving Up New Food, Entertainment – UA News Center

    Bama Dining Launches Thrilling New Food and Entertainment Experiences

    The latest on Williams-Brice Stadium renovations, entertainment district – On3

    Discover the Thrilling New Upgrades Coming to Williams-Brice Stadium and Its Vibrant Entertainment District!

    1000+ Entertainment Leaders Release Open Letter Criticizing TIFF’s Handling of Film – Creative Community for Peace

    1000+ Entertainment Leaders Release Open Letter Criticizing TIFF’s Handling of Film – Creative Community for Peace

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

    Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Teaching older adults how to use technology – WWNY

    Empowering Older Adults to Master Technology with Confidence

    Denver man receives pacemaker using new technology – CBS News

    Denver Man’s Life Transformed by Revolutionary Pacemaker Technology

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    YSU to celebrate launch of new radiology technology program – WKBN.com

    YSU Launches Exciting New Radiology Technology Program Celebration

    Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology kicks off return to school for Lancaster County colleges [photos] – LancasterOnline

    Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Kicks Off an Exciting New School Year for Lancaster County Colleges [Photos]

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

Stitching Masculinity: The Tailor’s Son Who Defied Gender Norms

July 15, 2024
in Entertainment
Stitching Masculinity: The Tailor’s Son Who Defied Gender Norms
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Wang Xinyuan remembers spending his childhood in his family’s tailor shop in Jiujiang in the eastern Jiangxi province, listening to the rhythmic beat of his mother’s sewing machine day after day. Now 42, Wang has become a master in embroidery himself after realizing and fully embracing his talent.

By age 10, he had mastered basic tailoring skills: nailing buttons, hemming trousers, and ironing clothes, and becoming an invaluable helper to his family. Noticing his interest in embroidery, his aunt was the first to teach him how to embroider, stitching flowers and cats together.

To Wang, sewing was a basic life skill, as natural as breathing. However, when he left for boarding school in his teens, his abilities — which came in especially handy for fixing his torn sports kit — were considered unusual by his peers.

One day, a classmate caught Wang practicing embroidery in their dorm room. Surprised, his peer called him a “sissy,” a label that quickly spread among fellow students. Sensitive to the ridicule at that time, Wang took the sewing kit home with embarrassment, never to bring it back to school again.

From ‘sissy’ to ‘manly’

Being considered unmanly weighed heavily on Wang and made him self-conscious. Determined to prove his masculinity, he made a drastic decision to join the army after high school.

Wang went even further by choosing to be a soldier in the farthest reaches of the country, acting rashly out of a feeling of injustice, he said. A six-day train journey carried him to the country’s northwestern border, where he found his masculinity by becoming a member of the Air Force’s anti-aircraft brigade in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Trading needle for gun, Wang endured grueling, day-after-day training in the barracks, testing his resilience. He stood at attention for two hours at a time, his two hands clasped tightly against his trouser seams. In sub-zero temperatures, at times minus 30 degrees Celsius, he and other soldiers had to trudge through waist-deep snow during field exercises.

Wang recalled one particularly brutal night: from 1 a.m. to dawn, he ran endlessly through snow-covered roads. Upon returning to the camp, his coat was so frozen that it could stand upright on its own.

Reflecting on his military years, Wang felt a mix of pain and pride. “In the army, I didn’t have to prove my masculinity, as the uniform spoke for itself,” he said. “It is said that you may regret being a soldier for two years, but not being one for a lifetime. The training was really tough, but I’m proud that I persevered.”

Getting into embroidery

In 2001, Wang retired from the military, spending only two days in his Jiangxi hometown before venturing to Guangzhou, a metropolis in southern China, with a mere 200 yuan ($28) in his pocket. Seeking business opportunities in this economic powerhouse, he started as a security guard earning 400 yuan a month, and climbed the ranks to team leader and supervisor. However, he viewed this as a job only, not a career.

A chance visit to the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum in the city reignited Wang’s passion for embroidery. An embroidered portrait captivated him with its delicate expressions and masterful use of light and shadow, evoking memories of his childhood sewing machine’s hum.

After discovering that renowned Cantonese embroidery artist Wu Yuzhen created the piece, Wang decided to enroll at the Institute of Cantonese Embroidery in Foshan, in the southern Guangdong province, where Wu used to teach.

At the institute, Wang found himself the sole male among female embroiderers, stirring uncomfortable memories of his school days. However, conversations with the teachers there eased his concerns, and he decided to stay and learn embroidery from them.

Wang discovered that, contrary to popular belief, Cantonese embroidery had traditionally been a male-dominated craft since the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Skills were passed on to men only as their patience and stamina were favored. Women only joined embroidery later as overseas demand increased.

In the following three years, Wang traveled between Guangzhou and Foshan, studying embroidery on weekends while working in security during the week. His embroidery skills gradually improved. Wang’s teacher often praised him for his color sense. “They said I’m a gifted embroiderer, sensitive to color,” Wang said. “For example, people usually use three to five colors for a piece of kapok, I use more than a dozen, creating a natural transition of light and shadow.”

When embroidering, Wang is usually immersed from dawn to dusk, practicing for more than 10 hours a day. As his techniques improved, he was eager to create more than just flowers and birds and began incorporating his favorite historical relics into Cantonese embroidery, innovating within the traditional craft. For one bronze artwork piece, he spent three months in the museum observing how bronze rust changes under light. He then meticulously cut the fine silk and stacked it in layers to capture the intricate details of aged bronze, a process that took a whole year.

With his growing expertise, Wang resigned from his job and opened a small embroidery store in Guangzhou. Three months later, a customer walked in and was impressed by the embroidery he found. He didn’t believe that it was Wang who had created the works. “I told him to come back tomorrow, and I would embroider in front of him,” Wang recalled. The next day, the customer did come back. After witnessing Wang’s skills, he bought three pieces.

The encounter marked a turning point, and Wang’s embroidery store business flourished. By 2018, he had expanded to seven stores across the city.

Evolving with times

Despite his success, Wang wonders why Cantonese embroidery, which has been passed down for thousands of years, has fallen into obscurity. “When people think of embroidery, they always mention Suzhou embroidery. How do we change that?” he said.

Thanks to modern technology, he turned to popular short video platforms like Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, to showcase his creative process and finished works. Through these short videos, his intricate designs — rusty bronzes, horse manes, and soulful character eyes — could reach a wider audience.

Wang no longer hides his identity as an embroidery artist. When getting a manicure, he asks nail technicians to sharpen his nails for better silk splitting and carries hand cream to maintain his hands. As societal norms evolve and gender stereotypes fade, Wang feels confident when practicing embroidery on camera, finding his male identity a unique selling point in the field.

Wang firmly believes that traditional skills must evolve and innovate to thrive and connect with the market. To target younger audiences, he has created video game-themed pieces inspired by popular titles such as “Soul Land” and “Honor of Kings,” all of which have gained traction online, boosting offline sales. “I came to buy pieces after seeing his works on Douyin,” customers often remark when visiting his stores.

Beyond sales, Wang hopes to revive Cantonese embroidery and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the craft. He wants people to understand the stories behind the craft and see the dedication of generations of artisans. “What’s made by hand can’t be replaced by modern technology,” he said.

Reported by Li Jingjing.

A version of this article originally appeared in Beijing Youth Daily. It has been translated and edited for brevity and clarity, and is republished here with permission.

Translator: Eunice Ouyang; editors: Xue Ni and Elise Mak.

(Header image: Wang Xinyuan works on an embroidery piece. From @广绣王新元 on Weibo)

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : SixthTone – https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1015481/Stitching%20Masculinity:%20The%20Tailor%E2%80%99s%20Son%20Who%20Defied%20Gender%20Norms

Tags: entertainmentMasculinityStitching
Previous Post

Crkd Nitro Deck Plus (Switch Controller) Review

Next Post

Chinese University Launches ‘Panda Studies’ Program

‘Urgent action’ needed to protect workers from heat stress in warming world, UN says – Reuters

Urgent Action Needed to Shield Workers from Rising Heat Risks in a Warming World

August 22, 2025
The United States’ Biggest Vulnerability in the Trade War: Its Knowledge Economy – World Politics Review

The United States’ Greatest Weakness in the Trade War: Its Knowledge Economy

August 22, 2025
How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

August 22, 2025
Willis Knighton Health in Louisiana joins Mayo Clinic Care Network – Mayo Clinic News Network

Willis Knighton Health Teams Up with Mayo Clinic Care Network to Elevate Patient Care in Louisiana

August 22, 2025
Focus on the Family James Dobson’s harsh Christianity changed GOP politics – MSNBC News

Focus on the Family James Dobson’s harsh Christianity changed GOP politics – MSNBC News

August 22, 2025

Sliteye Shark Discovered in Remote Indian Ocean – environment coastal & offshore

August 22, 2025
Summary of the 2025 GEDI Science Team Meeting – NASA Science (.gov)

Summary of the 2025 GEDI Science Team Meeting – NASA Science (.gov)

August 22, 2025
Hamilton to Launch Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program – Hamilton College

Hamilton Unveils Exciting New Science and Technology Entry Program for College Students

August 22, 2025
Dating App Burnout Is Real But It Doesn’t Have to Be Your Reality, Love Bites with Lifestyle Coach Francesca Luca – WATD 95.9 FM

Beat Dating App Burnout: Expert Tips to Keep Your Love Life Thrilling with Lifestyle Coach Francesca Luca

August 22, 2025
Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

August 22, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (784)
  • Economy (805)
  • Entertainment (21,684)
  • General (16,613)
  • Health (9,845)
  • Lifestyle (817)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (806)
  • Politics (814)
  • Science (16,017)
  • Sports (21,303)
  • Technology (15,785)
  • World (786)

Recent News

‘Urgent action’ needed to protect workers from heat stress in warming world, UN says – Reuters

Urgent Action Needed to Shield Workers from Rising Heat Risks in a Warming World

August 22, 2025
The United States’ Biggest Vulnerability in the Trade War: Its Knowledge Economy – World Politics Review

The United States’ Greatest Weakness in the Trade War: Its Knowledge Economy

August 22, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version