Preserving the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Mong ethnic group

Along with the orientation of developing tourism economy, the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Mong ethnic group in Pa Co commune is being preserved and promoted, becoming a unique indigenous cultural feature, contributing to improving the lives of ethnic minorities.

The quintessence of brocade weaving is being preserved by the Mong ethnic community in Pa Co commune in association with tourism development.

Mrs. Mua Y Ganh, a brocade weaver in Pa Co commune, worries: The number of brocade weaver artisans is very small now. In modern life, ready-made clothes and brocade fabrics produced on assembly lines are sold everywhere in the market at low prices. Therefore, the flax growing and brocade weaving profession of the Mong people is gradually disappearing. Mong women know the profession but rarely practice it.

Weavers teach their children and grandchildren to practice weaving.

Since 2018, the community tourism model has been built and developed in a number of hamlets and villages, making Pa Co an attractive destination. Besides the attraction of natural landscapes, experiential tourism products, including traditional brocade weaving, are loved by many tourists. From here, the weaving profession has been restored, the products are increasingly diverse, not only for making clothes, scarves, and hats for family use but also mostly to meet the needs of tourists to buy souvenirs and gifts.

Tourists explore the brocade weaving art of Mong Pa Co women.

Like other Mong women, Ms. Sung Y Thanh in Pa Co hamlet, Pa Co commune followed her mother to grow flax, spin yarn, and master sewing and embroidery before she got married. Ms. Thanh confided: To create brocade products or traditional costumes, one must go through many stages. Each stage from growing flax, spinning yarn, wax printing, indigo dyeing, embroidery, sewing... requires meticulousness and dexterity of the person making it. Therefore, in the past and now, the talent, diligence, and dexterity of Mong women are evaluated through their linen weaving skills.

The flax planting season in Pa Co takes place around March and April every year and the harvest season is around July and August. People usually dry the flax in the sun and then strip it into fibers. The flax fibers are then pounded in a mortar until soft, then connected, rolled into rolls, and washed. The next step is to boil the flax fibers until they are soft and white, then dry them in the sun. At the end of the flax making process, the Mong people use a reel to separate the fibers before hanging them on a loom for weaving.

The talent, diligence and dexterity of Mong women are judged through their linen weaving skills.

After the weaving process, women use a heated copper pen to draw on the beeswax layer to create patterns. After drawing, the fabric printed with beeswax is dyed indigo until the fabric is dark, then dipped in boiling water, the beeswax will melt, leaving light blue patterns. Next is the embroidery process, the patterns on the background of Mong people's costumes are mainly squares, diamonds, rectangles... which are done by hand, so it takes a lot of time.

Also through tourism activities, hand-woven products have attracted much attention. Some establishments have come to the place to learn and introduce, connecting the consumption of brocade weaving products for customers. In the commune, a number of craft groups have been formed, bringing together women to do the work. Ms. Sung Y Ganh, a member of the Pa Co hamlet craft group, shared: Since participating in the work of creating products, I have been proud and more aware of preserving the traditional profession of Mong women. This is also a significant source of income to support family life.

In Pa Co village, Pa Co commune, a weaving craft group was formed with all stages done entirely by hand.

Souvenir shop frequently visited by tourists in Cha Day village, Pa Co commune.

Ms. Sung Y Thanh added: Now, brocade weaving is not only done by some older women but also by middle-aged women, girls are also actively participating, and young girls are also guided and taught to preserve the craft and later pass it on to the next generations. Up to now, homestay households continue to promote the role of connecting craft village tourism to diversify the experience activities for the destination. In the commune, a traditional brocade weaving village and a number of weaving groups have been established, displaying and introducing brocade souvenirs made by artisans of the craft village and craft groups, 100% of the products are handwoven.

Craft villages and craft groups also proactively promote and bring products to local tourist service establishments to introduce and promote consumption, while helping to promote weaving products containing the cultural quintessence of the Mong Pa Co ethnic group to reach further and further.

Bui Minh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/bao-ton-nghe-det-tho-cam-truyen-thong-dan-toc-mong-241730.htm