China dominates the global textile market, responsible for over half of the world’s fabrics. If Kutch is the centre of Gujarati and Indian craft, Suzhou, in Jiangsu province, is China’s equivalent. Jelena travels to Suzhou to consider these questions of environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability in the Chinese textile industry. 

Local tour guide Susan, and Zoe and Angel from the Suzhou Taihu Snow Silk Company, detail how Suzhou’s historic artisan crafts have transformed over time. International students in Soochow University seek to tackle unsustainable water use in the Chinese textile industry. Zoe Zhang, director of Hangzhou MONAD Fabrics, outlines the challenges faced by Chinese businesses in the international market.