Author: Jacinda Dickie

Dancing Yak Handicrafts was founded in Chengdu in 2012. Inside locals and tourists alike stop to browse the beautiful selection of yak and sheep wool materials, carefully crafted into bags, pillows, and more.

The owner of the company is a Swiss lady named Katja. She realised that traditionally Tibetan women worked with their hands to weave tents made out of Yak wool, but now as those of the Tibetan culture find themselves increasingly living indoors in towns and cities, Katja did not want to see the traditions of their culture disappear. Instead, Katja is helping entrepreneurial Tibetan ladies take what is traditional and transition their skills into the modern world. She travels around Tibet to collect yak wool and uses it to make different Tibetan bags, table runners, and pillowcases, etc.

Now, she has 4 employees, and all of them are female Tibetans. Katja usually provides one year of training to her employees with regards to sewing and cutting material. She is not only training her staff, but also encouraging them to use their own creativity to create modern Tibetan style fusion products. She is also hoping to hire more Tibetan woman, and with that, Katja looks for employees who are open minded, willing to learn, and teachable.
Katja opened Danging Yak in Chengdu in 2013, where all of her handicrafts products are on display, and if you have chance to travel to Chengdu, you can visit the store to see samples of the women’s work. The women themselves benefit from the proceeds of the items they create. It’s a worthwhile visit to see the blend of traditional and modern culture come together in beautifully designed products. One of the best selling products is their hand-woven, yak wool bags.

Katiya has been supporting the local economy by buying locally made and sourced products. She has also been raising the quality of life for Tibetan women by empowering them as they grow in their own skills, abilities, and cultural pride. Katja hopes that there will continue to be more and more Tibetan female entrepreneurs in future.

If you are looking for a souvenir to add a colourful splash to your house, or an item to serve a more functional purpose, take a stroll down Shuhan Dong Road to visit the Dancing Yak.

Contact Info:

地址： 四川省成都市武侯区蜀汉东街7号附12号民族手工业品店。

电话： 13709010130

Address: Shuhan Dong Rd,7/12 Chengdu, Sichuan, China. (200m Opposite the Minority University Westgate) Subway line 3 Gaoshengqiao station exit C.

Phone: 13709010130

Website: dancingyakhandicrafts.com

Tucked away in the streets of Chengdu shoppers can find Blue Sheep Handicrafts & Giftshop. Surrounded by restaurants and other stores, the locals frequent this area as well, telling me that we have come to the right place. Continuing inside the store, I am surprised by how spacious the shop feels, even with so many unique items on display. I immediately spy a few items that I wouldn’t mind adding to my personal collection. Here I meet Dr. Ray, a woman who radiates joy and compassion.

Dr. Ray is a British lady who has spent most of her life living and working overseas. She is passionate about taking healthcare where there is none, and in 1999 started running surgery camps in Tibet. However, she soon realized that for Tibetans and the other ethnic minorities she was working with, it was very hard to pay for necessary things such as healthcare and education if you didn’t have a very good source of income. As a result, she and her husband began offering skills training to the locals in sewing, carving, carpentry, painting, and beekeeping, etc.

But the problem still remained: even with the skills, if you can’t sell your products to a larger market, how do locals make the necessary money to support their family?

The answer came in the form of Blue Sheep. In 2014 Dr. Ray opened the shop, and now buys from over 35 producers. These producers are selected for their quality, fair trade principles, and ecological sustainability, but they also represent over 600 people who are directly involved in the creation of these products. These direct beneficiaries have others relying on them for the income as well, so it’s not hard to see how this little store in Chengdu is truly impacting lives in China! Most of the profit from the Blue Sheep goes back to the producers to provide even more enterprise training, or to assist in disaster relief efforts.

When asked what she wanted her customers to know, Dr. Ray says that the Blue Sheep is a “one stop craft shop with a difference where you shop with a purpose!” There are stories attached to most of the products, and information is also available on a rack at the front door about some of the different suppliers.

If you do stop by and get a chance to meet Dr. Ray, ask her how she named the shop, and she will tell a story of woman versus sheep at the edge of a cliff.

Contact Info:

地址：一环路南四段高升桥北街1号， 成都A 区1楼35号商铺。

电话：15882336584

Address: Shop 35, A Qu, Gaoshengqiao North Street (Near Walmart at Roman Holiday Plaza)

Phone: 15882336584