Yu Ying, who excels at the design of temari balls (Japanese thread balls), has a steady audience of over 100,000 every time she gives livestream lectures at Yiwu Industrial and Commercial College (YICC) Creative Park.

Originally Chinese, Temari balls are a folk art developed in Japan. “Temari” means “hand ball” in Japanese. The balls made from embroidery may be used in handball games. In 2013, when Yu Ying traveled to Japan, she discovered this handicraft and developed a fascination with it. She bought books on temari making and taught herself after arriving home in China. Later, shemade some innovations to Japanese-style temari and soon became the first and only seller of temari on Taobao at that time.

In 2013, Yu Ying’s design company settled in Yiwu Creative Park, and she has since developed her business there. In 2016, she became a part-time teacher in the College of Creative Design at YICC. Under her guidance, many students have started their own creative businesses, engaging in the design and sale of Chinese style jewelry and handicrafts. (Translated by Jin Haiqiong, edited by Kendra Fiddler)