Continuous innovation

As his business experience grew, he realized it's important to keep up with the times and diversify rattan-woven products. He then traveled to Guangdong, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, drawing inspirations from their diverse rattan-weaving techniques and styles.

To date, his team has rolled out an array of more than 300 rattan products, ranging from furniture and decor to handicrafts for tourists.

He emphasizes that each item has retained graceful curves, lightweight structure and elegant color schemes, ensuring rustic beauty of nature while subtly exuding a modern aesthetic.

Although many rattan factories across China now rely on machine production, Chen remains committed to preserving handcrafting.

"Most machines can only handle the flat surfaces of rattan furniture, which compromises comfort and breathability. Handmade pieces, though labor-intensive, offer a superior user experience," Chen explains.

In his opinion, the intersecting strands of each handcrafted piece represent emotion, history, culture, and a deep respect for tradition.

In 2021, Hanzhong rattan weaving was named as a national intangible cultural heritage, which made him even more determined to carry forward the craft.

As a leading force behind the craft development, Chen has helped establish a rattan-weaving workshop, which has trained and given employment opportunities to over 3,000 people, mainly benefiting low-income households and left-behind populations in surrounding areas.

Qu Lingyu has been working for Chen's business for years.

"I learned this craft from my elders as a child, and now I earn a stable monthly income from it. The workplace is close to home, and the hours are flexible, too," Qu says.