Partners

Partners

The Hands Behind ArtisanHan

Every piece you receive from us carries more than just beauty—it carries relationships. Behind every DIY kit and every curated accessory are people we've met, workshops we've visited, and partnerships built on trust, respect, and shared values.

We don't buy from catalogs. We don't work with anonymous factories. We work with people.

Our Partnership Philosophy

Direct Relationships
We travel to meet our partners in person. No middlemen, no agents—just us sitting down with makers, sharing tea, and understanding their work firsthand.

Fair Compensation
We pay fair prices—always. If a maker doesn't set their own price, we don't work with them. Period.

Long-Term Commitment
We're not looking for one-time deals. We build relationships that last years, so our partners can plan, invest, and pass their skills to the next generation.

Cultural Respect
We don't ask makers to change their craft for "what sells." We trust their expertise and let their tradition guide our offerings.

Meet Our Partners

Master Chen – Yangzhou, Jiangsu

Wood carving · Fourth-generation carver

Master Chen's great-grandfather carved combs for Qing dynasty officials. Today, at 73, he still works by hand in the same small workshop, using tools his father made. His sandalwood combs take three days to complete—each tooth cut individually, each curve polished until it catches the light just so.

"A machine can make a comb in minutes," he told us. "But it cannot put love into it."

We carry Master Chen's combs in our accessories collection. Each one comes with a handwritten note from his workshop.

The Miao Silver Sisters – Guizhou Province

Silver smithing · Eighth-generation silversmiths

In a mountain village in Guizhou, three sisters carry on their family's 200-year tradition of Miao silver smithing. Everything is done by hand: melting, hammering, engraving. A single hairpin can take two full days.

The sisters taught us that silver, in Miao culture, isn't just decoration—it's protection, identity, and history worn on the body.

Our silver accessories come directly from their workshop. Each piece is signed with their family mark.

Suzhou Silk Workshop – Suzhou, Jiangsu

Silk embroidery · Family workshop since 1958

This small workshop employs eight embroiderers, all women, all trained by the founder's mother. They use techniques developed in the Song dynasty—splitting a single silk thread into 16 strands for embroidery so fine it looks like painting.

We source our embroidered pouches and sachets here. Each piece takes 3–10 days to complete, depending on the design.

Lijiang Herbal Cooperative – Yunnan Province

Traditional herbs · 12 families, one valley

High in the mountains of Yunnan, 12 families grow and wild-harvest herbs using methods passed down for generations. They dry them naturally, blend them by hand, and fill our scented sachets with mixtures that have been used for centuries—for calming, for focus, for protection.

The cooperative is women-led and community-owned. Every sachet you buy helps support healthcare and education in their village.

Kunming Wood Workshop – Yunnan Province

DIY kit production · Fair wage cooperative

This is where many of our DIY kits come to life. A cooperative of 18 woodworkers—carpenters, finishers, packers—produces our precision-cut pieces in small batches. Everyone earns a fair wage, works reasonable hours, and has a voice in how the workshop is run.

We designed our kits here, side by side with the people who make them. Every time we visit, they show us how to improve—a cut here, a notch there—and we listen.

Cultural Partners

Dr. Lin Hui – Beijing

Cultural heritage consultant

Dr. Lin is a professor of intangible cultural heritage at a Beijing university. She advises us on cultural accuracy, helps us understand the deeper meanings behind motifs and symbols, and ensures we represent traditions respectfully.

When we have questions—about a pattern's origin, a symbol's meaning, a technique's history—we ask Dr. Lin.

Heritage Craft Foundation – Nationwide

Non-profit partner

A portion of every ArtisanHan purchase goes to the Heritage Craft Foundation, which supports elderly artisans, funds apprenticeships, and documents disappearing techniques before they're lost forever.

We're proud to support their work.

Our Commitment to You

When you shop with ArtisanHan, you're not just buying a product. You're supporting:

  • 12 families in Yunnan's herbal cooperative

  • 8 embroiderers in Suzhou

  • 18 woodworkers in Kunming

  • 3 sisters carrying on 200 years of silver tradition

  • 1 73-year-old master carver who still works by hand

  • And many more behind every piece

Want to Partner With Us?

If you're a maker, artisan, or workshop aligned with our values, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for partners who:

  • Create with traditional techniques

  • Treat their workers fairly

  • Use quality, sustainable materials

  • Want to share their craft with the world

Email us at support@artisanhan.com with your story.

Because every piece has a maker. And every maker deserves to be known.

— The ArtisanHan Team