Traditional Wancao (Cyperus malaccensis) weaving demonstrates the contemporary value of intangible cultural heritage in the Lingnan region, but industrialization has narrowed its transmission space and market survival pathway. This study examines Wancao weaving from three linked perspectives: material evaluation, design transformation, and product development. Empirical tests show that Wancao fiber has sound physical and mechanical properties, supporting its use in contemporary home goods and cultural creative products. Based on the transformation strategies examined, deconstruction and recombination of traditional patterns, combined with modern textile processes, provide the most effective route for product renewal. CAD-assisted design and digital pattern generation are also identified as important tools with broader applicability to comparable heritage crafts. Consumer responses varied across market groups, but the cultural creative enthusiast segment showed a notably high purchase conversion rate of 68.3%. The results indicate that systematic design methods can support both living transmission and industrial development of Wancao weaving. By connecting fiber performance, woven-structure modeling, and product-oriented design, this study provides a transferable reference framework for the modern transformation of grass-weaving intangible heritage crafts without weakening their material and cultural identity.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.