A silk businessman's dream to bring ancient brocade to life

Photo provided to China Daily

While utilizing machine manufacturing, Wu, 48, has also used his resources to prop up high-end Songjin products made by craftsmen.

He employs 63-year-old Hu Deyin, a renowned silk craftsman, to work for him.

Every week day, Hu sits at the end of a wooden loom roughly the size of a large piano, weaving the silk as if he were composing a classical masterpiece. The loom is almost identical to those used by craftsman almost a thousand years ago.

Shrewd as he is, Wu has opened several boutique shops in Beijing and Suzhou. Though, currently, Wu's clients are mostly domestic, his ambitions are beyond China.

Recently, with the help of a Chinese friend, Wu has opened his first overseas office in London. The office will be a base to sell Songjin products to European customers.

"I plan to open a boutique shop in Paris to help Europeans recognize modern Chinese silk products," Wu said.

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