Tashi Lhamo (left), the head of a women's federation and a weaving cooperative in Lhundrub county of Xizang, displays a Tibetan carpet produced by her staff in April. SAMTEN NGODRUB/FOR CHINA DAILY

In Gangba village of Lhundrub county, Xizang autonomous region, a group of Tibetan women are weaving age-old traditions with modern commercial demands.

Their deft hands turn locally sourced fine wool into exquisite Tibetan rugs, scarves and other handcrafted textiles. Their craft has also brought fresh development opportunities to this rural community.

Once a hobby practiced mainly during farming off-seasons, Tibetan weaving has grown into a flourishing industry, becoming a driver of rural revitalization, according to local authorities.

Long reliant on animal husbandry, Gangba village boasts its own weaving tradition. For generations, women wove textiles for family members, handing down techniques between generations. Yet without standardized production or market access, these skills lay dormant, yielding little economic benefit for locals.

A turning point came in 2015 with the founding of the local weaving cooperative.

"We started with just 16,000 yuan ($2,350) and confronted numerous hurdles in the early days," said Basang Tsering, Party secretary of Gangba village.

"But we sank deep roots in the village to preserve this time-honored craft and pass on local culture. More importantly, we aimed to help rural women secure jobs and boost their income without traveling far from home," Basang Tsering said.

With professional support and village authorities' guidance, the cooperative has made good progress in recent years. It has overcome bottlenecks, expanded its sales, and developed modern designs, which include hats, embroidered pouches and decorative key chains.

These commercial efforts have empowered women through stable incomes while renewing cultural pride.

Tashi Lhamo, chairperson of the village women's federation, said the cooperative rolls out a wide range of products, from classic Tibetan rugs to colorful scarves.

Local herdsmen supply high-quality semi-fine wool, which the women refine into items that reflect traditional charm while fitting modern practical needs, said Tashi Lhamo.

Strategic cooperation has broadened the cooperative's market reach. Its debut exhibition at the annual Lhundrub county commodities fair drew wide attention, marking the first showcase of "Gangba Weaving" as a regional cultural brand.

The exposure resulted in bulk orders and strong demand, contributing an additional 20,000 yuan to the village's economy this year, according to local authorities.

Eight women work full-time at the cooperative, while many others work flexible hours at home, striking a balance between household duties, farming and their craft.

"Every piece we make embodies the essence of Tibetan culture," said Tashi Lhamo.

"This is not merely about heritage preservation. It is about building women's confidence and creating a platform for them to pursue better lives," she noted.

"The invaluable craftsmanship inherited from our ancestors should be well preserved rather than left stagnant; it needs to keep pace with the times and embrace modern aesthetics to resonate with wider audiences in the new era," she added.

Looking ahead, the cooperative plans to increase production by recruiting women from neighboring villages to weave.

"More professional training programs and product innovations will be launched to keep the time-honored Tibetan weaving tradition dynamic and well-adapted to modern market demands," she said.