If the Tang dynasty was loud and proud, the Song and Ming dynasties were about refined elegance. This is where embroidery evolved from mere decoration to a high art form.
During the Song dynasty, influenced by classical Chinese painting, embroiderers began to focus on realism. They used subtle color gradients to mimic the brushstrokes of famous paintings. This is the era of "Gu Xiu" (Gu Embroidery), which was so highly regarded that it was collected by the imperial court.
Our "Artisan Collection" bags feature this Song-Ming aesthetic. The motifs—plum blossoms, orchids, and bamboo—are stitched with such Fineness shading that they look like watercolor paintings. If you appreciate fine art and subtlety, this is the bag for you.