Not all fish live in the same sea. People are different. No matter what kind of people you meet, it's not unusual. No matter what kind of people you meet, there will always be people who make irresponsible remarks. We only come to this world once, to see the scenery we like, and to do the things we like. You don't have to live like a rose. If you want, you can be a jasmine, a chrysanthemum, a sunflower, a nameless flower, or thousands of thousands.
Background Introduction of the Origin
Tongxiang is located in Zhejiang Province, China, and is a renowned sericulture base. The region is characterized by its fertile land and mild climate, which are ideal for the growth of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms.
Tongxiang's sericulture history is long and rich, dating back several centuries. The high-quality silk produced here is famous both domestically and internationally, serving as the raw material for many luxury silk products.
The local residents possess extensive experience and superb skills in silkworm rearing and silk production, forming a traditional yet efficient production process.
Tongxiang is renowned for its traditional hand-drawn silk reeling and cocoon stripping craftsmanship, an ancient art passed down for centuries.
Artisans soak high-quality cocoons in hot water to soften them, then carefully extract long, fine silk threads. Their superb skills and immense patience ensure each thread is smooth and even.
The dedication and relentless pursuit of perfection by Tongxiang's artisans have made the silk products from this region famous worldwide for their luster and softness.
After reeling and cocoon stripping, artisans meticulously wash and comb the long silk threads multiple times to ensure their purity and smoothness.
Next, the reeled silk is spun into high-quality silk threads. These threads undergo dyeing, design, and cutting, and are then crafted into various silk products, including elegant clothing, exquisite scarves, and high-end home furnishings.
Each production stage reflects the artisans' professional skills and meticulous attention to detail. The final products are renowned for their exceptional quality, unique luster, and smooth texture, earning high praise from consumers.
Factory Establishment
Cecilia grew up in Tongxiang, a renowned sericulture base in China. Her family has always been in the business of selling silk. In 2011, her family established a small silk factory on this fertile land, dedicating themselves to production by leveraging the rich local resources and traditional sericulture techniques. The factory quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality silk products.
Business Crisis Emergence
It was Cecilia's ninth year in the UK. She had just earned her master's degree in economics and received several good job offers. She originally planned to continue her career in the UK, but her family informed her that the economic recession caused by the pandemic, disrupted logistics, and the shift to online sales had severely impacted traditional brick-and-mortar channels.
Large amounts of inventory were piling up in the warehouse, and the silk factory was facing an unprecedented crisis. Upon learning this, Cecilia resolutely decided to return to her hometown to help her family navigate through these challenging times.
Team Assembly
Cecilia realized that she could not tackle the enormous challenges on her own, so she gathered several accomplished friends from different fields to form a startup team:
- Bonnie: Works in the financial industry with extensive experience in financial planning and market data analysis.
- Cynthia: A product manager at an airline company, proficient in project management and product development.
- Catherine: The head of a clothing brand, skilled in brand operation and design.
The four decided to combine their professional knowledge and experience to inject new vitality into the traditional silk factory.
(We ordered the cake after deciding to start a business together on a whim, to celebrate our long-awaited reunion and to mark the beginning of a new journey)
Brand Establishment
After a year of understanding the industry and learning the craft, several young women who were not originally in the silk industry were deeply impressed by the long history behind silk, moved by the artisans' dedication of 20 to 30 years, and amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship of silk production in Tongxiang.
They felt regretful that such fine products were not known to more people. This strengthened their determination to help the traditional silk factory transform and to ensure that more people could enjoy the beautiful silk products.
Thus, a youthful online silk brand, foresilk, was launched. In the future, new designs and products will continue to be introduced.