The Ede girl brings brocade from the village to the city.

Growing up in a village in the Central Highlands, H'Loang Mlô carried her love for brocade weaving with her when she left the village to start a business in the city. For her, each stitch is not only a means of livelihood but also a way to preserve the soul of her ethnic culture in today's fast-paced life.

H'Loang (left in the photo) plans to study professional design this year to help with her work - Photo: MINH PHƯƠNG

As the highland sun softens after the festival season, H'Loang Mlô (30 years old, residing in Trắp hamlet, Cư M'gar commune) is busy in her brocade shop in Buôn Ma Thuột ward, Đắk Lắk province.

Village patterns seek new forms.

Not modest but full of indigo, red, and yellow hues, the familiar patterns of the Ede people seem to carry the rhythm of gongs and the breeze of the mountains into the city. Born into a purely agricultural family, with no one involved in weaving or design, H'Loang's childhood was spent working in the fields and helping her parents earn a living.

"Many people in my generation dropped out of school early and then spent their time working in the fields and starting families. I've been through it and understand the hardships. I don't want my younger sister to repeat them," H'Loang said.

In 2022, an encounter with a seller of traditional brocade clothing made her realize the beauty of her own ethnic culture. With no capital and no experience, she applied to be a collaborator, trying her hand at online sales with a few self-taken sample photos.

In the early days, orders were scarce. She borrowed clothes from weaving workshops, asked the brides and grooms in the village to wear them during engagement and wedding ceremonies, and then took photos and videos herself to post on social media. This simple image gradually gained acceptance, and more customers came to her.

Once she had established herself, H'Loang began thinking about modernizing traditional brocade. Young people love traditional clothing, but they need innovation so they can wear it in different settings. Driven by her passion for drawing, she sketched new dress styles and combinations of Ede, Co Ho, and Jrai patterns on traditional fabrics. Many nights, after the whole family had gone to sleep, a small lamp would still shine on her drawing table.

A turning point came when her cousin, H Lagi Mlô (20 years old), asked her to design an outfit for a local beauty pageant. The dress, inspired by Central Highlands patterns, helped Lagi win second place. For H'Loang, it was the belief that brocade could shine in its own unique way.

From sketches to designs and outfits, H Lagi Mlô (20 years old) achieved second place in the local beauty pageant in 2022 - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Preserving the soul of traditional brocade amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

In 2024, H'Loang opened a store in Buon Ma Thuot ward and invested all her savings in finding artisan weavers, connecting with garment factories, and building a network of collaborators.

"For brocade to reach a wider market, the quality must be good, and the price must be reasonable so that many people can wear it," she shared.

Starting from a single-person operation, she now has 6 full-time employees and over 50 online sales collaborators. Behind the shop are approximately 8 weaving factories and more than 10 garment factories working together.

Ms. Cao Thien Huong (34 years old), the owner of a sewing workshop in Buon Ma Thuot ward, said that sewing brocade is not easy because the fabric is thick and not very stretchy. "But once we get the hang of it, we can complete hundreds of sets every month. H'Loang works very responsibly and transparently," she said.

For H Lagi, from struggling to write product descriptions, she can now confidently explain the meaning of the patterns on her ethnic costumes. Not only those involved, but customers also find a unique feeling at this shop. H Le Na (23 years old), who often performs traditional musical instruments locally, said that she used to rent costumes near her home, but the designs were limited.

"There are so many beautiful outfits here, from traditional to modern. I love my ethnic costumes, so when I walked into the store, I felt like I was drawn into that atmosphere," Le Na said.

What makes H'Loang happiest is seeing more and more traditional brocade fabrics appearing in weddings, engagement ceremonies, and cultural events. From the bride and groom to relatives, sometimes a dozen people at a time are dressed in the colors of their village for each joyous occasion.

Many of her designs have also been requested for reproduction, spreading naturally. She plans to study design formally in the future, while also delving deeper into sewing and weaving to truly understand and fully immerse herself in her passion.

During the festival season in the Central Highlands, in the mountain town of Buon Ma Thuot, it's not uncommon to see tourists dressed in traditional Ede and M'Nong brocade costumes checking in at the Buon Ma Thuot intersection, the book street, or the Ako Dhong village; their eyes filled with curiosity and delight at the vibrant colors of the local culture.

Among the crowds were dresses and blouses made in H'Loang's small shop. She didn't loudly promote her work, quietly infusing each stitch with her belief that brocade wouldn't remain dormant in wooden chests but would continue to walk the streets, vibrant in today's life.

Believe in perseverance

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy, Director of the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Book Street, recounted that she met H'Loang when the latter was just starting out selling goods. In this Ede girl, she saw a young person who wanted to preserve the traditional brocade weaving craft, fearing that the craft would die out. "Meeting H'Loang made me feel more at ease," she said.

Believing in her perseverance, she lent her the stall free of charge for a year to display her products. But after only six months, H'Loang proactively asked to share the rent. "She's very practical. Now that she has her own shop, I believe she will go far," Ms. Thuy said proudly.

MINH PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-gai-e-de-dua-tho-cam-tu-buon-ra-pho-20260403234035579.htm