Woman keeps art of making straw rain cape alive

Fan Licai makes straw rain cape at her home in Zhuliangzhuang village, Heilin town, Ganyu district, Lianyungang city, Jiangsu province, August 2, 2016. [Photo/IC]

There is probably nothing in the world that can be worn and also used as a sleeping mat at the same time, except for straw rain cape. In rural China in 1970s, the cape was everywhere, but as society develops, it is slowly losing its place.

Fan Licai, a woman in Zhuliangzhuang village, Lianyungang city of Jiangsu province, has special love for straw rain cape, and claims she is the only one still making straw rain cape in Ganyu district.

The 74-year-old learnt the skill when she was 12. When she was young, she could make two capes in three days, and made a decent living for her family. And although her children ask her not to make cape anymore and enjoy her leisure time, she still continues to earn a living.

Making a straw rain coat needs 4 kilograms of straw, and for Fan now needs 4-5 days to finish a single cape. Usually each cape can fetch 120 yuan (around $18), and making dozens of capes in one year can support her and her husband's life. Some people buy the cape for car repairing, but the demand has fallen. As a result there is no one willing to learn the art of making straw rain cape anymore, Fan said.