Today, more than 50 left-behind women in the village are steadily producing cloth shoes at the workshop, gaining reliable earnings while staying close to their families.
"These are not just shoes. They carry the memories and craftsmanship of the village's residents," Wang said.
Cloth shoes made by women in the e-commerce base in Beizhuang village, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Photo by Wang Songsong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Blending modern design concepts with age-old techniques, she introduced styles that cater to contemporary tastes and wearing habits. To expand sales, she turned to live-streaming e-commerce, a move that far exceeded expectations. Orders soon poured in from across the country, driving monthly revenues ever higher.
In 2025, the workshop recorded about 300,000 yuan (around $41,300 ) in sales from cloth shoes.
Cloth shoes made by women in the e-commerce base in Beizhuang village, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Photo by Wang Songsong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Cloth shoes made by women in the e-commerce base in Beizhuang village, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Photo by Wang Songsong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Cloth shoes made by women in the e-commerce base in Beizhuang village, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Photo by Wang Songsong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Wang Yamei, who manages the e-commerce base in Beizhuang village, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, introduces a shoe product through live e-commerce streaming. [Photo by Wang Songsong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Women make shoes in the e-commerce base in Beizhuang village, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.[Photo by Wang Songsong/chinadaily.com.cn]