And Why It’s in Our Bags
In the autumn of 2013, I didn’t expect to fall in love.But I did, and that love has lasted more than 12 years.
It happened in a quiet mountain village in Guizhou, China. As a lead designer of Bampo, I went there looking for traditional crafts with my team. And then I saw it, the Bright Dong Cloth.
It was hanging on a line, drying in the sun. Deep blues, glowing reds, rich blacks. All handwoven. All natural. It shimmered like metal and felt alive. We couldn’t stop touching it. We couldn’t look away. Right then, we knew: this wasn’t just fabric. It was magic.
A Rare Discovery
The Dong people have been making this cloth for over 2,000 years. They grow their own cotton. They dye it with indigo, wood ash, and smoked mud. The fabric is soft but strong. It smells faintly of firewood. Every thread holds time, care, and memory. We couldn't wait to share it with the world.
Why It’s So Precious
We tried to buy some cloth, but the women in the village kindly said no. Not because they didn’t want to help, but because they didn’t have enough. Each piece takes months, even up to a year to make. There are over 30 steps, done entirely by hand. The process includes 10 rounds of dyeing, bleaching, and hammering. The Dong tribe has no written language, so all the skills are passed down by word of mouth. The cloth is traditionally made for important occasions, such as weddings, grand celebrations, or to honor special guests. But today, fewer young people stay in the village. Many leave to find work elsewhere. As industrialization spreads, the craft is disappearing.
We also learned how to spot the real thing
Real Dong Cloth is completely handmade, and you can feel it in the threads. The patterns are woven from memory — not printed. And it smells like smoke. No machine can copy that.The younger women have started using modern techniques to dye the cloth, adding industrial dyes to achieve smoother, more even colors. These fabrics are easy to find and cheap to buy. But obviously, this isn’t what I was looking for.
Keeping the Craft Alive
Luckily, after being turned away a few times and making our way through village after village, we finally met a family willing to sell us her cloth. That was just the beginning. We then spent weeks with the artisans. Most of them didn’t speak Mandarin, so I worked closely with a translator. We watched them dip fabric into indigo again and again. We saw them smoke it over the kitchen fire to make it last. We thought — Could we turn it into something modern, without losing its soul? We decided to try.
A Bag That Talks
We worked side by side with the women, as they continued to weave just as they always have. Meanwhile, we began designing the bags—pleating the fabric, embellishing it with vintage embroidery, and finishing it with natural beads and silver charms. Our Bright Dong Cloth collection is a celebration of joy and tradition. Each bag is a bridge—from past to present, from the village to your hands.
What They Said Made Me Stay
When I asked a few young mothers—who stayed home to care for their children—if they’d be willing to learn this ancient craft, as long as the pay was fair and the orders kept coming.
They all lit up with joy and said, “Of course we would!” “It means we could earn some income, stay close to our families, and no longer have to leave home to find work.”
Their words were the most genuine and heartfelt I heard on this entire journey. And in that moment, I knew—this is what I want to work toward.
How We’re Giving Back
So beyond simply using Dong Cloth, how can we truly support the people behind it?
Their art wasn’t just tradition, it was life.
That’s why we created Folk Art Ecosystems—spaces where artisans, designers, travelers, and locals come together to share crafts and culture.
Every Dong Cloth bag you carry gives back. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Bampo Folk Art Foundation, helping preserve traditions and support local needs.
Most importantly, we help create jobs, so Dong women and farmers can stay close to their families, and pass on their craft with pride.
Stories Are Continuing
Our passion is bringing traditional craftsmanship into modern life. That’s why we turned Dong Cloth into one-of-a-kind handbags. And the story doesn’t stop there. Inspired by the texture and feel of Dong Cloth, we created our signature “Hand-Grab Textured Leather Bag” — another modern take on heritage. The threads of history are still weaving forward.
Will you join us?
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