In April 2010, The Alliance Cultural Foundation took several teachers from Shih Chien University's School of Design on a slow tour of Hualien and Taitung. As the tour bus sped along Highway 11, Professor Hsieh Da-Li suddenly shouted, "Turn around! Turn around!" Alighting from the bus were Chairman Stanley Yen, Dean An Yu-Chien of Shih Chien University's School of Design, Professor Hsieh Da-Li, Professor Qu Jia-Rui, and Designer Lu Fang-Zhi.
The founder, Ms. LONG Hui-Mei ingeniously hung various off-white woven items on tree branches. The unique beauty impressed the designers deeply. Chairman Yen told Hui-Mei, "You should meet these renowned figures from the design world. Their admiration for your work shows you've already reached a commendable standard. Keep it up!" Hui-Mei was thrilled to hear this; she had previously crocheted hats and bags simply for the love of it. Her crochet techniques, material selection, and creative design differed significantly from traditional indigenous crafts, often not receiving external approval.
Since then, this unique shop has become one of the highlights of Taitung in Chairman Yen's heart, as well as a must-visit destination for The Alliance Cultural Foundation's distinguished guests on slow tours of Hualien and Taitung. It also became the foundation's first microloan case.
In early 2011, Hui-Mei reluctantly left her 14-year hospital job to fully commit to "Cotton & Hemp House." Because her products were widely loved by the market, Hui-Mei no longer worried about her livelihood. However, she was concerned about the livelihood of more tribal people, so she went to the tribe to teach crocheting. She then invited students to collaborate on hats and bags to supplement their household income, creating job opportunities for tribal women.
In 2012, through The Alliance Cultural Foundation's connection, Cotton & Hemp House's products were sold in designer "Jamei Chen" store in Taipei. Hui-Mei hopes the vitality of Cotton & Hemp House can continue to extend outward, allowing the tribe to reach beyond.
