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As I walked into the village committee office, all the ornaments made from the local handwoven fabrics shocked me. Those fabrics are prevalent in the village, in fact, I still remember the days when I spent my summer with my grandma here, watching her weaving the fabric. To be frank, this is not something unfamiliar to me, but I never expected this fabric could be used beyond rags, towels, or patches on clothes, nor that their artistic value could also be utilized. These cuddly stuffed animals, like giraffes or little dinosaurs, captured my attention.
“These are all hand-made by the elderly here, very exquisite...Sadly, not a lot of youngsters are doing this anymore,” the local village secretary told me with a proud yet concerned voice. But I realized that the delicate aesthetic and unique handwoven appeal are something distinct to the local village, something valued more than money and wealth. It is an intangible cultural heritage that’s not seen elsewhere, and we should do something to make it worth its value and to make the people who designed it feel appreciated.
To start this, I had to first figure out where the problem actually was. The fact that it is a skill restricted to the elderly of the village will not change anytime soon, but what if I can help them make up for their disadvantages? The aged people are experienced, but they lack the opportunity to keep pace with societal need. Their works are fabulous, but they don’t always follow the popular trends. This started me thinking. If we can find a way to help the elders come up with well-liked designs quickly, then it will be much more efficient and eventually sell well.And the answer is: Artificial Intelligence.
Starting from that idea, I generated an AI model that combined existing trending patterns with fabric samples. In this case, the elders can use AI to generate samples of designs in a split second. If they saw a popular pattern, they could use the model right away and get the best sample.
This motivated me, as I made a clear and precise presentation on how to use the model, and explained to them the logic behind it: to make their work more efficient and create more and better designs. When I finished my presentation, the amazed and grateful expressions from the elders incentivized me, as a teenager who grew up in this village, to continue working at my greatest effort to revive my village and discover the potential of the place and develop it into a sustainable, innovative, and long-lasting economy.
Bell is an 11th grade student at YK Pao. You can find him in the boisterous longtangs of Shanghai or in the crowds of football stadiums.
