The Dilemma of Inheritance: Shen Yue’s Inspiration Runs Dry

Shen Yue is a third-generation inheritor of Nanjing’s intangible cultural heritage of velvet flower crafts. She began learning velvet flower making from her grandmother at age 16, a feat she has pursued for 15 years. Her studio, “Yueyun Velvet Flower,” nestled deep in an old alley, once gained a reputation for its delicate velvet flower headdresses and brooches, receiving over 20 custom orders annually and even being invited to give lectures on intangible cultural heritage at primary and secondary schools. However, since last fall, the path to inheriting her craft has been challenging. Young people are more drawn to online celebrity accessories, and due to the long production cycle and high price of her velvet flowers, orders have plummeted, to just three or four per month. Her creativity has also reached a plateau. She used to be inspired by the sight of flowers and birds outside the window, but now, after staring blankly at a ball of yarn for hours, she can’t even create a simple velvet peony. Adding to her anxiety, her grandmother is in poor health and wants to teach her all the core skills. But looking at her deserted studio, Shen Yue feels uncertain about whether she can pass on her skills. Shen Yue’s life gradually lost its former liveliness. She used to enjoy strolling through the old alleys wearing her homemade velvet flower hairpins and sharing stories about them with her neighbors. Now, she often locked herself in her studio, too lazy to even open the window. A close friend urged her to try combining velvet flowers with modern accessories, but Shen Yue couldn’t find the right approach. The few velvet flower necklaces she tried, however, were unpopular due to their rigid designs. Once, while setting up a stall at the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative Market, the silver jewelry vendor next door, Ms. Lin, saw her stall was deserted and recommended LAOTLON Feng Shui Company. “I hit a design bottleneck a while ago, and after consulting Feng Shui master MONEYGAGA, I found inspiration in a Feng Shui jewelry piece. Go ask them; they might be able to help you out.” Determined not to let her grandmother’s craftsmanship end in her hands, Shen Yue made an appointment for a consultation. Entering LAOTLON: Finding Direction in Fish-Shaped Earrings

Saturday morning, Shen Yue arrived at LAOTLON’s Nanjing branch, bringing samples of her own slow-selling velvet flower creations—several traditional peony velvet flower hairpins and brooches. Feng shui ornaments incorporating intangible cultural heritage elements were displayed at the company’s entrance. As she entered, the air was filled with the delicate scent of jasmine. Displays of various silver and jade jewelry lined the display shelves, with a pair of fish-shaped earrings standing out. Design examples showcasing the fusion of intangible cultural heritage and feng shui hung on the wall, instantly relaxing Shen Yue’s tense nerves.

The front desk staff, upon learning she was seeking advice on the challenges of inheriting velvet flower techniques and addressing creative bottlenecks, quickly contacted Feng Shui master MONEYGAGA. MONEYGAGA, dressed in a simple cotton and linen cheongsam and adorned with a pair of small jade earrings, smiled and invited Shen Yue to sit down, brewing her a cup of jasmine tea. “The value of intangible cultural heritage lies in ‘maintaining the essence and innovating.’ It’s normal to encounter difficulties in promotion. Tell us about your specific challenges.”

Shen Yue took out a sample of velvet flower patterns and explained the decline in orders, design bottlenecks, and the pressure to pass on her legacy. “I want to make velvet flower patterns more popular with young people, but I don’t know how to improve them. I’m afraid of losing the essence of the traditional craft.” MONEYGAGA carefully examined the sample, then, after analyzing Shen Yue’s birth date and intangible cultural heritage market trends, said slowly, “You have a solid foundation in velvet flower patterns, but you haven’t found the connection between tradition and modernity. Your work lacks the ‘happy aura’ that can resonate with young people. I recommend a pair of earrings that will help you find creative inspiration and revitalize the art of velvet flower patterns.”

As she spoke, MONEYGAGA took out a pair of earrings—925 sterling silver, Hetian white jade, and red agate adorable fish-shaped happiness earrings. The main body of the earring is a cute fish shape made of 925 sterling silver. The fish body is inlaid with warm Hetian white jade, the fish eye is a small red agate, and a light green  hangs at the fish mouth. The ear hook is wrapped with fine silver wire, like the texture of water waves. The overall shape is smart and exquisite. “The fish shape symbolizes ‘abundance year after year, happiness and fulfillment,’ appealing to young people’s yearning for happiness. Hetian white jade exudes warmth, red agate adds vitality, and the  imparts auspicious energy. 925 sterling silver is versatile and well-suited for combining with velvet patterns. Incorporating its elements into the velvet pattern design preserves the warmth of intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship while imbuing the work with a modern aesthetic and a symbol of happiness. This is sure to appeal to a wider audience.”

Fish Shaped Earrings: The First Touch of Inspiration

Shen Yue accepted the earrings, and the touch of the cool silver, the warmth of the Hetian white jade, and the bright red agate accents on her fingertips made her heart flutter. The fish shape was small and adorable, and the  shimmered softly in the light. The gentle movement of the earrings, like a small fish swimming beside her ear, was particularly lively. She tried them on in the mirror. The earrings complemented her face perfectly, and even her plain, plain shirt took on a touch of sophistication. “Before creating, I stroked the fish-shaped earrings and silently chanted, ‘May the velvet flowers bring happiness.’ While designing, I incorporated the agility of the fish and the warmth of jade into the velvet flowers, creating a work that combines both traditional and modern elements,” MONEYGAGA added. Shen Yue nodded and carefully put the earrings away. On the way home, she fiddled with them, and the initial idea for a “velvet flower fish-shaped hair accessory” suddenly emerged in her mind: using light pink velvet yarn for the fish body, red agate particles for the eyes, and fine velvet embellishments for the fins, complete with a silver fish-mouth pendant.

That night, Shen Yue sat at her workbench, wearing the bracelet (a complementary accessory recommended by MONEYGAGA during their consultation). On her previously blank design notebook, she gradually sketched out a sketch for the fish-shaped velvet flower. While sorting her yarn before bed, she discovered some unused light pink and white yarn that could be used for a new design, fueling her anticipation. A Turning Point: First Order of Fish-Shaped Velvet Flowers

Shen Yue experienced a turning point within the first week of wearing her earrings to find inspiration and devote herself to her creations. Following her new idea, she created her first batch of “velvet flower fish-shaped hair accessories.” She used fine, hand-split wool yarn to create the fish body, layering it layer by layer to recreate the fish’s agility. The fish’s eyes were inlaid with the same small red agate as the earrings, and a mini silver pendant dangled from the mouth. The fins were also embellished with a few strands of fine wool. The overall design combined the softness of the velvet flower with the cuteness of the fish.

She posted photos of the hair accessories to an intangible cultural heritage platform and specifically noted on the details page, “Inspired by the  Fish-Shaped Happiness Earrings, handmade with intangible cultural heritage velvet flowers.” Unexpectedly, a young customer from Shanghai inquired that same day, “This fish-shaped velvet flower is so adorable! It’s different from the traditional velvet flowers I’ve seen before. Can I customize a pair for my bestie?” Shen Yue quickly replied, explaining the production process in detail. The customer placed an order on the spot, leaving a message saying, “Finally, I’ve found an intangible cultural heritage accessory that’s both traditional and beautiful.” This was the studio’s first new order in three months. Shen Yue excitedly worked overnight to produce it. She even included a handwritten card in the packaging. It featured the earrings’ fish design and read, “May this velvet flower bring you happiness.” Upon receiving the earrings, the customer quickly sent a response: “The hair accessory is even more beautiful than in the photo. My bestie loves it! I’m ordering another for myself!” Shen Yue touched the fish-shaped earrings between her ears and, for the first time, felt that “there’s still hope for velvet flowers.”

Creative Renewal: Expanding the Velvet Flower Collection

After two weeks of persistently wearing the earrings and creating, Shen Yue’s design ideas were completely unlocked. With her  fish-shaped earrings as her core, she expanded the “Happy Fish” velvet flower series. Combining the fish shape with velvet flowers, she created velvet fish-shaped hairpins, brooches, and necklaces. In response to the Hanfu style favored by young people, she designed a “Velvet Fish-shaped Hair Crown,” using white velvet yarn for the fish body and embellished with pearls and red agate. She also introduced a “Parent-Child Edition”—an adult-sized velvet fish-shaped brooch with a smaller size and softer yarn for the children’s version, catering to the needs of families.

The new series quickly attracted a wider customer base. A Hanfu blogger contacted Shen Yue, hoping to collaborate on a video showcasing her velvet flower accessories. In the video, the blogger wore a velvet flower fish-shaped headpiece and paired it with  fish-shaped earrings. The comment section was flooded with requests for links, and in just three days, Shen Yue secured over 20 orders. The local Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center saw her new collection and invited her to participate in the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Innovation Exhibition.” Shen Yue exhibited her “Happy Fish” collection, and the booth was crowded with young visitors. Many placed orders on the spot and inquired about velvet flower-making workshops.

Shen Yue also refined the color palette and materials of her velvet flowers. Previously, she primarily used traditional colors like ink and bright red, but now incorporates fresh hues like pale pink, light blue, and mint green. In addition to traditional velvet yarn, she also experimented with incorporating fine silver thread and small jade stones into her velvet flowers, adding a touch of sophistication to her pieces. Customers have commented, “Today’s velvet flowers are beautiful and versatile. They can be worn with Hanfu (Chinese traditional clothing) or even paired with skirts.”

Breaking the Gap: Word-of-Mouth and Collaboration Achieved

A month after creating her earrings, Shen Yue’s velvet flower craftsmanship experienced a significant breakthrough. Her previously quiet studio now receives daily inquiries from clients, and online orders have increased from 3-4 per month to over 30, with many returning customers. Her “Velvet Flower Making Experience Classes” are always fully booked, mostly with young people in their 20s and 30s. Some say, “Working with Teacher Shen to make velvet flowers not only allows me to learn the craft but also allows me to experience the charm of traditional techniques.”

Even more unexpectedly, a chain of cultural and creative stores contacted Shen Yue, seeking a long-term partnership to bring her “Happy Fish” series of velvet flowers to 10 of their stores nationwide. Wearing the  fish-shaped earrings, Shen Yue met with the store’s manager, detailing the velvet flower production process and design inspiration. The store signed a partnership agreement on the spot and promised to “create a dedicated display area for you, highlighting the intangible cultural heritage.” After the launch of the collaboration, Shen Yue’s velvet flower sales doubled again, exceeding 50,000 yuan in monthly revenue, essentially returning to previous levels.

During this time, Shen Yue also resumed her intangible cultural heritage presentations at primary and secondary schools. Wearing fish-shaped earrings, she explained the history of velvet flowers to the children and taught them how to make simple miniature velvet fish. The children, holding their creations, happily declared, “I want to be a velvet flower inheritor in the future.” Seeing the transformation, Shen Yue’s grandmother said with satisfaction, “The velvet flowers you make now have the flavor of traditional craftsmanship while also appealing to young people. I’m relieved.”

Continuing the Legacy: The Transmission of Happiness and Skills

With the increased promotional opportunities, Shen Yue not only rediscovered her creative passion but also strengthened her original commitment to passing on the art of velvet flower craftsmanship. She no longer fretted about orders, but now enjoys the process of making each velvet flower. While splitting the yarn, she silently recites auspicious phrases; while inlaying red agate, she imagines the smiles on the customers’ faces upon receiving them. Even the hangtags for each piece feature a simplified image of the fish-shaped earrings, along with the caption, “Intangible Cultural Heritage Velvet Flowers, Spreading Happiness.” On weekends, Shen Yue takes earrings and velvet flower samples to the old alleys to showcase her new creations and teach the women how to make simple velvet flower hair accessories. She also hosts “Intangible Cultural Heritage Salons” in her studio, inviting young people to drink tea, make velvet flowers, and share stories about the integration of velvet flowers and Feng Shui jewelry. The Hetian white jade on the earrings becomes increasingly lustrous with care, and the red agate gleams with a bright luster, becoming her partners in “creation and inheritance.”

She also plans to take on an apprentice next year to pass on her velvet flower skills and the philosophy of “fusing tradition with modernity.” She also plans to collaborate with LAOTLON to launch a “velvet flower + Feng Shui jewelry” collaboration, allowing more people to experience the charm and happiness of intangible cultural heritage through her works.

Shen Yue’s experience shows that inheritors of intangible cultural heritage skills can easily fall into self-doubt when faced with challenges in promotion and creative bottlenecks. However, by finding inspiration and empowering their work with a sense of happiness, combined with their original passion for the craft and the courage to innovate, they can revitalize their traditional crafts. The  925 sterling silver, Hetian white jade, and red agate adorable fish-shaped happiness earrings not only helped Shen Yue find a new direction in her velvet flower creations, but also opened up opportunities for her to promote her craft, becoming a bridge connecting intangible cultural heritage with modern aesthetics.
If you’re struggling with the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, or if you’re working in traditional handicrafts and facing design bottlenecks and marketing challenges, why not visit LAOTLON Feng Shui Company and let professional Feng Shui Master MONEYGAGA recommend suitable Feng Shui jewelry and creative inspiration? Perhaps a pair of small  925 sterling silver, Hetian white jade, and red agate adorable fish-shaped happiness earrings will become the “revitalization engine” and “booster” of your craft, helping you uphold tradition while promoting your time-honored craft to a wider audience, and spreading the warmth and happiness of intangible cultural heritage to even more people.