Qing Chun (Chun)

The sewing machines clatter non-stop in the overcrowded, windowless rooms of the sweatshops which line Zhili’s endless streets. Seated at the machines are young people from rural provinces in their early 20s who produce children’s clothing for the Chinese market at breathtaking speed under neon lights and to the sound of loud pop music. It is hard, repetitive, monotonous work; the struggle for better pay is a constant concern; life in the shared accommodation is extremely cramped, yet there is joking, arguing, flirting and discussions about the latest iPhone. The handheld digital camera offers a glimpse into a little-known living and working reality. (bik)