Preserving brocade weaving in a market mechanism

11:27, 07/01/2024

To preserve brocade weaving, in recent years, authorities at all levels have had many policies and solutions.

Typically, some brocade weaving cooperatives were established with initial support from local authorities. Artisans have improved and innovated in techniques, means, materials, designs, patterns, production organization, and market relations to maintain the profession...

With the initial support of the local government, some cooperatives and brocade production facilities have been doing well. However, very few cooperatives still exist in their true sense, let alone develop. This is an inevitable consequence of the movement's way of doing things in a socio-economic environment that has fundamentally changed compared to the traditional social environment.

Traditional weaving is very difficult to survive in the current market mechanism. To have a traditional product, each set of clothes, loincloth, scarf must go through many elaborate stages, taking a lot of time. Meanwhile, now people only need to take samples of traditional products imported from China, made from industrial fibers, dyed with chemicals at a price less than 10% of the price of traditional brocade; these products are produced very quickly and cheaply.

Although the output is still difficult, people in the villages still try to preserve the traditional brocade weaving profession.

Once Chinese imitations appeared, brocade weavers had to find ways to stay in business while also fighting against competitors to survive. Many brocade traders on the one hand traded in Chinese imitations to avoid losses; on the other hand, invested in weaving machines to weave their own brocade with thread but still following traditional patterns, then brought the goods to reputable places to sell and consign.

It can be said that the current brocade weaving profession is far from the time of “self-sufficiency” and is increasingly changing, moving away from the traditional weaving profession, while the “output” is facing many difficulties… The problem is how to solve the relationship between conservation and development, tradition and innovation and how to diversify consumers. Creating brocade products with practical applications to supply the market as well as making brocade a tourism product is a solution that needs to be aimed at to both preserve, maintain and develop traditional culture, and solve jobs and increase income for artisans and ethnic minorities.

Manh Phong

Source