Reviving the lost art of making silk parasols

Ladies once commonly carried silk parasols to protect their complexions from the sun, and some were quite elaborate and fashionable. Hangzhou hand-made silk parasols with bamboo ribs were famous for their artistry.

Over time, women came to fear the sun less and dared venture out without a parasol. They found that broad-brimmed hats and synthetic, waterproof and collapsible umbrellas were easier to handle and more durable. Mass-produced umbrellas were also cheaper.

Silk parasols became vintage accessories, fashion relics.

Today Hangzhou is resurrecting its classic crafts, such as the West Lake bamboo-ribbed silk parasol, which has become a signature Hangzhou souvenir.

"The craft of making silk parasols will be lost if it is not taught and passed down to the next generation," says 56-year-old Zhang Jinhua, an expert who makes traditional silk parasols and teaches others in the Hangzhou Crafts Living Culture Exhibition Hall.

To preserve parasol-making, the city government gave a studio to Zhang and her apprentices. They work six days a week making old-style parasols, some with modern designs and some water-proofed.

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