Unique patterns on Hmong people's clothing

Beneath the ethereal clouds of the mountains and forests, Cat Cat village in Ta Van commune, home to a large Hmong population, still preserves a unique cultural tradition: the decorative patterns on traditional clothing. Without fanfare or ostentation, each stroke of beeswax, each stitch, embodies a profound cultural depth and national pride.

Mrs. Sung Thi May, 75 years old, is one of the few people who still master the technique of beeswax painting – a crucial step in creating patterns on linen fabric.

Ms. Sung Thi May has been working as a beeswax painter for over 40 years.

Having dedicated over 40 years to her craft, she has incorporated familiar images of the mountains and forests into each of her drawings, such as snails, crabs, rice plants, terraced fields, flowers, birds, and butterflies…

With her skillful hands, these patterns not only become visually appealing but also carry symbolic meaning, reflecting the rich worldview and spiritual life of the Hmong people.

My grandmother and mother taught me how to draw with beeswax from a young age. Each stroke had to be careful, meticulous, and precise. A slight mistake could ruin the entire canvas.

Ms. Sung Thi May shared.

Watching Mrs. May sit on the porch, crayon in hand, her eyes intently focused on each stroke on the white linen cloth, I felt as if the entire flow of culture was present. From the patterns passed down by our ancestors, the artist's creativity was required to express their own feelings on the fabric.

The goal is for each piece of fabric to not simply be filled with drawings, but to allow one to see the story of Hmong life told through delicate patterns.

These patterns carry symbolic meanings, reflecting the rich worldview and spiritual life of the Hmong people in Ta Van.

According to Ms. May, after drawing the design, a lot of time must be spent embroidering the brocade, and it takes a whole month to complete a traditional costume. The traditional costumes of the Hmong people are not only aesthetically pleasing but also clearly show gender differences through style, color, and patterns.

Hmong women in Ta Van typically wear blouses with long, narrow sleeves and a deep neckline, paired with black trousers. The sleeves are embroidered with eye-catching brocade patterns. The waist is cinched with a strip of fabric embroidered with brocade patterns on the back.

The patterns on women's clothing often depict flowers, birds, and insects, drawn with beeswax, then dyed with indigo and embroidered with colored threads, creating a soft, feminine beauty that is nonetheless strong and powerful.

Patterns on the traditional clothing of Hmong women in Ta Van.

"Hmong women often bend over and work diligently, whether in the fields or at home. The piece of cloth with beeswax patterns and embroidered brocade sewn onto the back and shoulders of a Hmong woman is to help people easily recognize her from behind and distinguish between male and female," added Mrs. May.

In contrast, the clothing of Hmong men in Ta Van leans towards simplicity and practicality. They wear long-sleeved indigo shirts with a standing collar and off-the-shoulder buttons. The body of the shirt is not embroidered with elaborate patterns, but a piece of brocade fabric is sewn onto the back of the collar. The trousers are usually straight-legged, dark in color, convenient for labor and production. Although not as vibrant as women's clothing, the men's attire still exudes a strong, dignified appearance, reflecting their role as pillars of the family and community.

These differences are not only aesthetic but also reflect how the Hmong people express their social roles, gender perceptions, and traditional beauty through every stitch. This is what creates the richness, diversity, and uniqueness of the Hmong people's clothing culture in Ta Van.

Many Hmong women in Ta Van participated in demonstrating the steps involved in making traditional costumes at the Cat Cat Tourist Area.

Nearly five years ago, Mrs. May and several other Hmong women from Ta Van were invited to practice and demonstrate the entire process of making traditional ethnic costumes at the Cat Cat Tourist Area. From spinning flax, weaving fabric, dyeing with indigo, painting with beeswax, to sewing the costumes… Each person was responsible for a different stage, creating a vibrant experiential space for tourists.

Ms. Sung Thi Phinh, 54 years old, from Cat Cat village, Ta Van commune, is in charge of the flax spinning process. Watching Ms. Phinh's rhythmic and skillful hand-foot coordination as she winds the flax threads onto the bobbin, one can see her expertise.

I am very proud of my ethnic group's traditional costume. I am also very happy to do this job, which both preserves the traditional craft and contributes to promoting the beauty of Hmong culture to tourists.

Ms. Sung Thi Phinh said.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Deputy Director of Cat Cat Tourism Company Limited, inviting Mong ethnic artisans to participate in traditional craft demonstrations is not only aimed at creating a highlight for the tourist area, but also a way to preserve and promote local cultural values.

We hope that visitors will not only come to admire the scenery, but also to experience authentic cultural spaces, understand and appreciate the traditional values ​​of the Hmong people here.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Deputy Director of Cat Cat Tourism Co., Ltd., stated.

The traditional clothing of the Hmong people in Ta Van is a work of art, a cultural identity, and a source of national pride. The patterns, drawn with beeswax and then dyed with indigo, become clearly visible, creating a captivating contrast. Each motif carries its own meaning, connected to nature and the life of the Hmong people.

The cultural space in Ta Van, rich in traditional Mong culture, is another destination that attracts many tourists.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, preserving and promoting the art of decorating traditional Hmong clothing in Ta Van is not only about preserving a craft, but also about safeguarding the soul of the ethnic culture.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/doc-dao-hoa-van-tren-trang-phuc-nguoi-mong-post886266.html