For generations, women of the Shui ethnic group in southwest China have preserved a remarkable embroidery tradition known as horse-tail embroidery. Using a single horsehair as its core, they wrap colorful threads around it to create intricate patterns. The firmness of horsehair ensures the designs remain durable. Recognized as a "living fossil" of embroidery, this art form offers invaluable insight into Shui folklore, customs and cultural heritage. Each horse-tail embroidery piece often conveys a wish, tells a story or embodies a fragment of history.