Ping An’s Maternal Needlework Initiative Featured at London Craft Week

A Stitch in Time: How Tradition Meets Sustainability in China’s Ethnic Minority Communities

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, May 29, 2025 – Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. is weaving a new narrative for sustainability, showcasing its Mother’s Needlework public welfare program at London Craft Week 2025. The initiative, highlighted within the “Tiangong Kaiwu: Crafting Works Of China” exhibition at the China Pavilion, spotlights the intricate embroidery and handcrafted carpets – notably the celebrated Dulong Carpet – created by women from ethnic minority communities, including the Yi and Dulong peoples. These pieces, rich with the legacy of millennia-old intangible cultural heritage, are more than just beautiful objects; they represent a powerful model for women’s economic empowerment, community development, and, crucially, a sustainable economic future.

The exhibit’s centerpiece, the Dulong Carpet, hails from Yunnan Province. This intricate creation is a testament to the traditions and heritage of the Dulong people, one of China’s smallest ethnic groups, and a symbol of cultural pride. Its vibrant colors and detailed patterns speak volumes about the rich history it represents.

In a world increasingly shaped by rapid modernization, the survival of these time-honored skills is under threat. Recognizing the fragility of this cultural legacy, Ping An launched the Mother’s Needlework program in 2020. The aim? To empower ethnic minority women by preserving their traditional techniques while simultaneously boosting their incomes through innovative design and enhanced market access. The program’s innovative approach fuses recycled materials with traditional ethnic designs, creating aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly textile products for both domestic and international markets, aligning perfectly with the growing demand for sustainable fashion.

The initiative’s reach has expanded across ten provinces and regions in China, including Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, and Guangdong, directly benefiting over 100 women. This program has demonstrably improved the economic well-being of participating families, fostering a vibrant and sustainable community environment.

Ping An views these ethnic handicrafts not merely as cultural artifacts but as a vital component in the advancement of sustainable development and crucial social inclusion. By leveraging international platforms like London Craft Week, the company aims to share the unique allure of China’s intangible cultural heritage. The ultimate goal is to invite collaboration from global designers and social organizations to jointly explore the innovative and sustainable future of handicrafts, proving that age-old skills can thrive in the 21st century.

London Craft Week, established in 2015 and supported by the King’s Foundation, serves as a premier global stage spotlighting design, fashion, and crafts. The event draws designers and artisans worldwide annually, fostering cross-cultural exchange and innovation through exhibitions, workshops, and forums.

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEx:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is a global financial services powerhouse. With a strategy focused on integrated finance, health, and senior care, the Group works to provide professional “financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge” services to its nearly 240 million retail customers. Ping An continues to advance technological innovation to improve both efficiency and risk management across its financial businesses. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of December 2024, Ping An had more than RMB12 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 29^th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2024 and 53^rd in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2024.

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