Weaving a decorative history
Xinjiang artisans use traditional patterns to tell stories and attempt to ignite the next generation's interest to keep the ancient craft alive, Xing Wen in Hotan and Mao Weihua in Urumqi report.
The company was once a small family workshop. In 2008, after traditional Uygur crafting techniques for handmade carpets were added to the national-level intangible cultural heritage list by the State Council, the workshop leveraged support policies to upgrade into a company, according to Mawlan Muhtar, the manager of Nakixwan Carpets.
It now boasts more than 100 weavers and a branch in Lop county.
Mawlan, 32, who studied computer science at Xinjiang University in Urumqi, planned to return to his hometown of Hotan to start a business after graduation.
After graduating in 2014, he met the then-manager of Nakixwan Carpets by chance and was hired as the assistant manager.
Mawlan intended to learn how to run a company in this role to prepare for developing a startup.
"However, as I delved into the carpet industry and culture, I started to love this field," he says. He later became a partner and is now the manager.
"Handmade carpet weaving employs many people," he adds.
The company annually trains villagers interested in learning weaving and offers them jobs. Tursungul Mamtimin, 43, is a skilled weaver at the company.
She says she earns 800 yuan ($110) for weaving one square meter of carpet.
"This job requires skill, patience and attention to detail," she says, adding that the income is of great help to her family.
Mawlan adds that the company explores new designs every year, incorporating artistic elements to make the work less monotonous.
