Chaozhou embroidery, the art of needlework originating from Chaozhou City of south China's Guangdong Province that was used in making gowns, encompasses both inheritance and innovation, infused with advanced techniques, to bring forth beauty that captivates the world.

Cantonese embroidery is one of the four famous embroideries in China. Chaozhou embroidery, part of the Cantonese embroidery, dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and has a history of more than 1,000 years. It became well-known in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
In 2006, the Chaozhou embroidery was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.
Kang Huifang, a national-level inheritor of Chaozhou embroidery, said an important feature of Chaozhou embroidery is its padding techniques, which make the patterns look more vivid.
"One Hundred Children Playing in the Spring is a story that has been passed down in our culture. Every household hopes to have more children. (We created the piece of work) using the unique characteristics of Chaozhou embroidery. We didn't have a blueprint to follow, we simply visualized how we want to present it in our minds and created it accordingly," Kang said.
"They started embroidering at the age of 17 or 18, and have been doing it for several decades. That's the way we're -- simply doing it," she said while speaking of her fellow embroiderers.
So far, Chao Embroidery, as an ancient craftsmanship, has also incorporated the beauty of modern fashion. Kang said what her daughter has been doing is innovating on the foundation of heritage so as to explore overseas markets for their dresses with Chao Embroidery.
She Keyan is the daughter of Kang. Like many embroiderers in Chaozhou, she learned embroidery from her mother.
"My mother specializes in authentic Chao Embroidery, while I focus on making evening gowns. The wedding dress and formal attire industry in Chaozhou is what we are known for," she said.
"Chaozhou is renowned as China's city of wedding dresses and formal attire precisely because we have skilled embroiderers. Many people wonder what make Chaozhou embroidery different. We inherit not only its craftsmanship but also its way of thinking, how to better apply the wisdom to our current clothing. So we are combining the traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to create garments that can spread even further," she said.
Currently, the city of Chaozhou produces over 20 million wedding dresses annually, with 90 percent of them being exported to more than 20 countries and regions worldwide, according to She.
"It's my first time wearing a wedding dress, and it's also my first time wearing a bridal gown that incorporates elements of Chaozhou embroidery. I feel incredibly honored. Chaozhou has now become an extremely important and impressive city in the production of wedding dresses and formal attire," said Cleo Luden, a French internet influencer.