Through the skillful and meticulous hands of Thai women, the brocade fabrics are created with the soul of the nation.
Preserving cultural beauty through each weaving line
In the past, Thai's daughter, in addition to being a good worker and diligent in farming, also had to know how to pull strands and weave fabric. When they are old enough to get married, the daughter weaves blankets, pillows, cushions... In the beliefs and culture of the Thai people, traditional hand-woven brocade not only plays a role in daily life but also appears in many spiritual rituals such as the Xen sus, Xen Muong, funerals or the ceremony of choosing a husband for the daughter.
With bright main colors, diverse patterns, natural materials, brocade is widely used in garments, pillowcases, blankets, cushions and home decoration. Each brocade product seems to have its own story, associated with the life, passion, and culture of the weaver.
Ms. Lo Thi Chanh, a member of Chieng Chau Brocade Weaving and Service Cooperative, now in Mai Ha Commune, Phu Tho Province, shared: "For Thai ethnic women, brocade weaving is a mandatory skill, passed down from generation to generation, through generations in the family".
Each brocade fabric is created from the green color of the grass, pink, white, red of the wild flowers, the brilliant yellow of the sun. Young girls love bright colors and flying patterns; women and mothers prefer deep tones and stronger lines.
Not only a skill, brocade weaving is also a deep pride for Thai women. They consider each fabric as a living heritage, attached to their childhood, daily life, rituals and even in their mother's wishes. The weaver is not simply the one who makes the product, but also the one who tells stories through threads - about the crop, nature, villages and humanity.
However, there was a time when the weaving sound gradually decreased because brocade could no longer be sold. Cheap market goods and textile products are flooding in, causing many people to quit their jobs. It is during these difficult times that the perseverance of people like Ms. Chanh helps the brocade craft not to be lost.
"There were times when I thought I would have lost my job, but then thanks to the cooperative, thanks to the development of tourism, and more young people returning to weaving, I felt that the job had more opportunities to live again," Ms. Chanh added.
Weaving for livelihood - bringing brocade closer to tourists
Previously, brocade was mainly woven to serve the daily life of each family. In recent years, thanks to the establishment of cooperatives and traditional weaving groups, brocade has become a commodity, helping many households' economy to improve. Ms. Kha Thi Nhua, Nhot hamlet, now in Mai Chau commune, Phu Tho province, said: "Inheriting and promoting the quintessence of traditional crafts, Thai ethnic women have created many products that both preserve traditional culture and are modern, suitable for the market".
Not only traditional dresses, now people are also creating many compact, convenient products such as handbags, wallets, lockers, scarves, tablecloths... to suit the needs of tourists. This transformation makes products easier to consume, while creating more motivation for people to keep their profession.
From 2020 to now, many brocade weaving products have been recognized as OCOP meeting 3-star and 4-star standards, increasing reputation and affirming quality. Ms. Vi Thi Oanh, Deputy Director of Chieng Chau Brocade Weaving and Service Cooperative, said: "The Cooperative always strives to improve product quality, ensure OCOP compliance, diversify types, and improve designs to meet many domestic and foreign customer segments".
Along with improving quality, cooperative members also actively learn online sales skills and promote products through social networks. Many orders from provinces and cities, even overseas Vietnamese, show the growing attraction of indigenous handmade weaving products.
Over the years, the products have improved their designs, prices, and diverse uses, increasing the number of orders. Thereby, the income of cooperative members is stable, their lives are improved. On average, a woman can earn an additional 3 - 6 million VND per month from weaving, helping to cover family expenses.
Coming to the ancient Mai Chau area today, visitors can easily come across brilliant and diverse brocade stalls: scarves, traditional clothes, handbags, wallets, keychains... Each product is a reminder of the love of the profession, traditional culture and determination to keep the fire burning from the Thai people.
Tourist Nguyen Mai Anh (Hanoi) shared: "I am very impressed with Mai Chau brocade because it is both beautiful and has profound cultural meaning. I bought a few scarves and a traditional dress, each product felt like a part of a local story told through threads and patterns."
In the future direction, many cooperatives will continue to expand their scale, combining traditional culture with modern business elements, ensuring the maintenance of traditional crafts, increasing attraction to tourists during each festival season. Weaving classes are also opened for the younger generation in the community, helping to pass on the profession and increase on-site startup opportunities.
Mr. Ha Trung Thao, Chairman of Mai Chau Commune People's Committee, said: "The commune identifies the development of brocade weaving as not only preserving national cultural identity but also a strategic direction to develop a sustainable community tourism economy, creating more livelihoods for people in the highlands."
Mai Chau brocade is not only a traditional craft but also a vital heritage, needing to be lit every day to continue spreading the beauty of Thai ethnic culture. It is not just a matter of keeping the profession, but of keeping the roots, keeping the spirit and identity - something that nothing can replace.
