[Xiaohan] Tradition, embodied. From Hangzhou, "Xiaohan" weaves lost techniques and nature's bounty.

July 01, 2025

As we searched for exceptional artisans across China, we encountered a brand that truly took our breath away. This time, we'd like to introduce this special brand: Hangzhou Xiaohan Clothing Co., Ltd.

Their philosophy is "大道至簡, 淳朴自然" (The greatest truth is simple, pure, and natural) — pursuing the simple and natural beauty of nature. Since its establishment in 2017, the company has combined natural materials with traditional hand-dyeing techniques to create garments that each tell a story.

Let's take a look at some of the traditional techniques they have carefully preserved and revived for the modern age.

Xiangyunsha (Gambiered Canton Gauze) — The Miraculous Silk Fabric Called "Soft Gold"

This fabric, originally named "Liangsha," has its origins in the Song Dynasty and is the world's only silk fabric dyed exclusively with natural plant dyes.

Its production process is truly a collaboration with nature. After being repeatedly dyed with the juice of the dioscorea cirrhosa plant, the fabric is coated with mud from the Pearl River Delta, rich in iron, and then exposed to the strong summer sun, transforming it into a deep, beautiful blackish-brown. Due to its rarity and beauty, it is known as "soft gold" and is registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.

Yu Zihie — The Lost and Revived Phantom Shibori Dyeing

Yu Zihie is a type of shibori dyeing that creates beautiful, fine dotted patterns like fish eggs. It requires extremely high skill, involving wrapping and tightly knotting threads around tiny points, as small as grains of rice, four times before dyeing.

Although this technique originated in China, it was once lost in the 20th century. Fortunately, the technique was transmitted to Japan and carefully preserved there. In the 1970s, China invited Japanese artisans once again and succeeded in restoring this beautiful tradition on its own soil. It is truly a cultural gem passed down between China and Japan.

The Origin of Dyeing, The Profound World of "Xie"

"Xie" is an old name for resist dyeing (preventing dye from penetrating). Its history dates back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Jia Xie: Dyeing by clamping fabric with wooden boards
Kou Xie: Dyeing by tying and binding fabric (shibori dyeing)
Luo Xie: Resist dyeing using wax (batik dyeing)

"Xiaohan" is deeply rooted in these origins of textile dyeing and weaving, expressing ethnic beauty that harmonizes with nature in modern clothing.

Xiaohan's clothing is more than just something to wear. It embodies the essence of "plant rubbing and dyeing" with over 3,000 years of history, the tradition of splendid "brocade satin," and the passion of artisans who have transcended lost eras.

We hope you can feel the history and stories embedded in each piece of fabric.