Rooted in the misty mountains of Guizhou, Karsta Threads was born from a quiet but enduring love for the culture I come from — the Miao people, their traditions, symbols, and stories.
As a designer now living in California, I’ve always carried the colors and textures of my hometown with me. The hand-stitched patterns, the flowing swirls of batik, the silverwork passed down for generations — these aren’t just decorative crafts. They are identity. They are memory. They are home.
On a return visit to the villages in Guizhou, I witnessed something that deeply moved me:
Elderly women sitting quietly by their doors, working patiently on embroidery that can take months, sometimes years, to complete. Their hands were steady. Their spirits warm. But they were often alone. Most younger generations had left for the cities, and few remained to carry on the tradition. For many of these women — some of whom have never left the mountains — embroidery remains their only source of income.
A quiet village in the mountains of Guizhou, where generations of Miao artisans have lived, worked, and stitched culture into every thread.
One of the artisans we work with in Guizhou. Her embroidery reflects generations of skill, care, and cultural memory.
That moment stayed with me. And it became the reason behind Karsta Threads.
This is more than a brand. It is a bridge, between generations, between cultures, and between those who create with care and those who value craft, meaning, and heritage.
Our mission is to support Miao artisans by bringing their work to a global audience — not as souvenirs or curiosities, but as living expressions of cultural excellence. Through every thread, we hope to honor their legacy, empower their future, and remind the next generation that what’s made by hand is never out of date.
One day, we hope to bring these artisans beyond the mountains — not to change who they are, but to show them how deeply their work is loved.
Welcome to Karsta Threads.
A thread between worlds.