高要編(bian)織主要分為花(hua)席(xi)與洋籃(lan),就(jiu)是著名的金(jin)渡花(hua)席(xi)編(bian)織技藝、新橋(qiao)洋籃(lan)編(bian)織工(gong)藝。
高要(yao)草(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)的(de)生產(chan)始(shi)于(yu)明(ming)朝,編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)草(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)的(de)蒲(pu)草(cao)自福建傳入高要(yao),引(yin)種(zhong)于(yu)金渡(du)、白土(tu)、蓮塘等地。蒲(pu)草(cao)具有莖細、柔軟、堅韌等特(te)點,有“賽龍(long)須”之美譽。蒲(pu)草(cao)曬(shai)干后(hou),經過挑(tiao)選、舂平、漂(piao)洗、染色,方可(ke)編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)。初以編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)蒲(pu)包為(wei)主,后(hou)改為(wei)編(bian)草(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)。草(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)又分為(wei)白席(xi)(xi)(xi)和(he)花(hua)(hua)席(xi)(xi)(xi)兩(liang)種(zhong),白席(xi)(xi)(xi)是用(yong)本色草(cao)編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)而成(cheng),花(hua)(hua)席(xi)(xi)(xi)則采用(yong)染色草(cao)和(he)本色草(cao)交(jiao)叉編(bian)制。自清中葉國外(wai)(wai)染料傳入金渡(du),便產(chan)生花(hua)(hua)席(xi)(xi)(xi)。新中國成(cheng)立后(hou)一度成(cheng)為(wei)高要(yao)最大宗的(de)手工(gong)業,高峰時(shi)年收購量達200多(duo)萬(wan)張。花(hua)(hua)席(xi)(xi)(xi)分十(shi)個級別、十(shi)二種(zhong)規格。1958年,國家主席(xi)(xi)(xi)劉少奇(qi)到東南亞各國訪問時(shi),曾把(ba)金渡(du)花(hua)(hua)席(xi)(xi)(xi)作為(wei)禮品饋(kui)贈(zeng)給(gei)外(wai)(wai)國友(you)人。
高要洋(yang)籃又(you)叫花(hua)(hua)籃,始創(chuang)于清光緒年(nian)間,相傳(chuan)由(you)新(xin)橋(qiao)竹(zhu)器(qi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)匠鄧福(fu)首創(chuang)。新(xin)中國成立(li)后(hou),私人(ren)生(sheng)產的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)竹(zhu)織(zhi)行(xing)業逐(zhu)步過(guo)渡到(dao)集體經營。1958年(nian)新(xin)橋(qiao)150個生(sheng)產隊中有142個開展竹(zhu)器(qi)編織(zhi),從(cong)業人(ren)員1.1萬人(ren),占總人(ren)口的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)23%。改革開放后(hou),洋(yang)籃花(hua)(hua)色(se)(se)品種(zhong)(zhong)不斷增加,生(sheng)產向(xiang)規模(mo)化、現代化方向(xiang)發展。1982年(nian)曾派出溫志強、溫定先等人(ren)赴(fu)哥倫比亞傳(chuan)授編織(zhi)技(ji)術。1987年(nian)全鎮有編織(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)廠(chang)15家,其中以珠江工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)廠(chang)和(he)珠江文明廠(chang)規模(mo)較大,產值均在百萬元以上。直到(dao)九(jiu)十年(nian)代讓位(wei)于規模(mo)更大的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)聯(lian)發工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)有限公司,產品從(cong)竹(zhu)、藤織(zhi)品向(xiang)鐵(tie)、木(mu)、芒、柳、樹葉等多(duo)元化方向(xiang)發展,品種(zhong)(zhong)由(you)過(guo)去的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)100多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)增加到(dao)1800多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)。竹(zhu)編藝(yi)人(ren)精(jing)心選擇上等的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)新(xin)橋(qiao)竹(zhu)、河(he)臺竹(zhu)或(huo)廣寧竹(zhu),然后(hou)刮青(qing)開邊,曬成蠟黃色(se)(se)后(hou),破(po)成粗細(xi)均勻(yun)、厚薄一致的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)竹(zhu)片和(he)竹(zhu)絲。根據需要,有的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)保持竹(zhu)子本身(shen)自然色(se)(se)澤,有的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)還(huan)需要涂上硝(xiao)酸,畫成花(hua)(hua)紋,或(huo)染色(se)(se)加工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。竹(zhu)編工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)大體可分起底、織(zhi)身(shen)、插花(hua)(hua)、燒(shao)花(hua)(hua)、噴漆、絞口等工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)序(xu)。在經緯編織(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)基礎上,還(huan)可以穿插各種(zhong)(zhong)技(ji)法,如疏、插、穿、削、鎖、釘、扎、套等,使(shi)編出的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)圖案花(hua)(hua)色(se)(se)變化多(duo)樣。