Old department stores sell nostalgic journey to past

Stitched together

Yang Guozhen has spent nearly two decades making traditional hand-sewn cotton quilts for weddings.

The 50-year-old from Yancheng, Jiangsu province, has been making wedding quilts at Xinjiekou Department Store since she joined the staff in 2013.

Traditionally, the thread is supposed to run the length of the quilt without being cut or joined, symbolizing an unbroken bond between the couple. The quilt is stitched nine times, representing lasting happiness. White fabric and floral patterns symbolize growing old together.

"There are sayings for every stitch," Yang said. "The first means devotion to one another; the second, a family blessed with children; the third, good fortune; the fourth, peace throughout the year … and the ninth means lasting forever."

The custom has survived despite the rise of manufactured bedding and online shopping. Parents still come to the store to buy quilts for their children's weddings, while more young couples are now choosing their own fabrics and designs.

September and October are especially busy as the two months are traditionally a peak period for weddings. Beijing's cool, crisp autumn weather makes it a popular time for marriage celebrations. Couples often place their orders a month in advance, choosing auspicious dates for the quilts to be made.

For Yang, the work is tiring but rewarding.

"People may think it is hard work, but we find happiness in it," she said. "Many parents come here, and together we pass good fortune on to the newlyweds."

One of Yang's apprentices, Cai Ying, remembers watching her grandmother make quilts. "The process isn't that complicated," said Cai. "But there are so many customs and meanings you have to remember. You feel that you are giving a blessing to a newly married couple."

Yang has taught several apprentices and hopes the tradition will survive because quilts remain part of family life.

On Sept 4, Xinjiekou Department Store held a traditional apprenticeship ceremony, inviting retired employees to observe a new generation of workers.

New apprentices spend at least six months working with a mentor. They get to know each other before deciding whether to enter a work relationship. The store sees it as a two-way decision.

"As the saying goes, a master and an apprentice are like father and son," said Ma He, who joined the store around 2009 as a down-jacket salesman and worked his way up through floor management and marketing.

"The master doesn't just teach technical skills. He also guides the apprentice's behavior, attitude and professional ethics."

Ma said his mentor taught him job dedication, the basics of inventory, sales and accounting and how to serve customers.