HAIKOU /China/, March 16. /South China's Hainan Province will create a globally renowned brand for brocade products made by craftsmen of the Li people, an autochthonous ethnic group that is considered to be the most ancient on the island, according to the local government.
According to the "five-year inheritance and development action plan for the traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery techniques of the Li people (2025-2029)" released by the Hainan government, the relevant government departments will promote awareness of these brocades among the general public. The government will support individuals who specialize in their production and help promote these products at major international conventions and exhibitions, including Paris Fashion Week.
The government will also provide advertising and marketing resources to promote brocades at cultural events, including performances by artists, and at tourism events. At the same time, courses will be organized to teach the technology of manufacturing such fabrics - for this purpose, 4-5 special provincial-level training centers will appear in Hainan.
The media will play an important role in popularizing Li brocade products. It is expected that through a series of incentive measures, the authorities will be able to increase the number of promotion channels, including supporting the dissemination of information about organizations, enterprises and craftsmen engaged in this craft.
Hainan will strive to make Li brocade a permanent part of UNESCO's representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity, according to the government plan. By 2029, this traditional product is expected to become another "trademark" of the regional free trade port.
The Li people are considered the oldest ethnic group in Hainan. They have preserved many customs and traditions dating back to the Neolithic period. They speak a language that belongs to the Tai-Kadai (also known as the Kra–Dai) family, which includes Thai and Lao. Most of them live in the central part of the province, home to dense tropical forests.
