"That's the only way to avoid spoiling the material," says Qi, "It allows the wood fibers to breathe, and maintains the wood's unique luster."

It takes 15 pieces of wood to make a flower with six petals-each as big as a thumbnail. The finished floral bag consists of 758 pieces of inlaid wood, and it has been through 22 technological processes, with 194 sub-processes.

Luckily, the effort he puts into his creations is appreciated. Last month, the brand won the China Design Power 100 Award in the category of Traditional Craft Design. The award is sponsored by the organizing committee of the China Art Power List and co-sponsored by Chinese newspaper, Reference News, and the Forbidden City Gallery-a training and educational institution.

Qi is not only a craftsman who has benefited from the old techniques, he's also a designer inspired by the traditional culture of the earlier Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties.

Taking the floral handbag as an example, the pattern inlaid originates from a lute cherished by the Royal Family of Japan, which was the gift from the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

As well as reproducing the historical, he also introduces modern elements to his design.