Unique black Lo Lo ethnic costume - Cao Bang Electronic Newspaper

The Lo Lo ethnic group in Cao Bang is mainly the Black Lo Lo with nearly 3,000 people, accounting for 0.54% of the province's population and 59% of the total Lo Lo people in Vietnam. The Black Lo Lo people live in the communes of Kim Cuc, Co Ba, Hong Tri (Bao Lac) and Duc Hanh (Bao Lam). Although they are a small ethnic group with many difficulties in life, the Lo Lo people are always conscious of preserving their cultural identity, clearly shown in the preservation of their traditional costumes.

The first impression of tourists when coming to the villages of the Black Lo Lo people is certainly the women's costumes. Because these costumes are often very elaborate from pants, shirts, scarves, hats and are decorated with sophisticated patterns such as triangles, squares, suns... The decoration technique is by sewing colored pieces of fabric onto the costumes. Each detail and pattern represents the beauty of traditional beliefs and culture.

The Black Lo Lo people's costumes are dominated by black. Black Lo Lo women wear self-woven indigo shirts, which are short, have a low-cut chest, and a round neck. The average size of a shirt is only about 40 cm long and 40 - 42 cm wide at the shoulders. Therefore, when wearing it, the belly is often exposed. Nowadays, the exposed belly is worn with a thin white or blue bra made of silk. The two sleeves are narrow and shaped like bamboo shoots. The part under the armpits is sewn with an isosceles triangle-shaped piece of fabric, giving the shirt a bat-wing shape.

The decoration on the sleeves forms two distinct parts. The half-sleeve from the shoulder to the elbow is sewn with four evenly spaced red or pink fabric lines forming a closed circle. The part from the elbow to the wrist is colored fabric circles (red, blue, yellow connected together), usually 9 circles, which can be the same width or different sizes. The hem and placket are edged with floral fabric, about 1 cm wide for decoration. On the hem and placket are sewn three blue, yellow, and white lines. Inside the placket on both sides is sewn an additional piece of fabric.

The black Lo Lo women's shirt has 4 or 5 fabric buttons or brass buttons. The back of the shirt is where the most decorative patterns are concentrated, where the skillful hands, aesthetic sense and creativity of the black Lo Lo women are shown. The decorative fabric is 10 - 12 cm wide, running from the collar to the hem of the shirt. This decorative piece is created by isosceles triangle and square pieces of fabric joined together to form three or four large squares, between the two fabric squares there is a water wave embroidery with white thread. The elaborate fabric joining and embroidery techniques have made the black Lo Lo women's shirt both brilliant and warm because the decoration on the body of the shirt only occupies a modest position in the middle of the back.

Black Lo Lo women cut and sew their own costumes.

According to Ms. Chi Thi Vang, Khuoi Khon hamlet, Kim Cuc commune (Bao Lac), due to the characteristic of the Lo Lo shirt, which is to expose the belly, showing off the woman's waist, when young, Lo Lo children wear pullover shirts with round necks, the shirt is opened a bit in front of the chest and fastened with two brass buttons so that the child can easily put it on when wearing it. The shirt usually has a long body that covers the buttocks. Children's pants are also cut like pants with lame legs like adult pants. However, for girls, when they reach 8 years old, they start wrapping cloth around their belly so that when they grow up, they will have a slim waist and look beautiful in new shirts.

Black Lo Lo women wear pants cut and sewn from indigo fabric, which are lame-legged pants with a leaf-shaped waistband, about 70 - 75 cm long, 45 - 48 cm wide, and without embroidery. When used, an indigo cloth is draped over the pants from back to front and rolled tightly in front of the belly. This cloth helps to tighten the waistband, making the woman look more beautiful.

Lo Lo women wear leggings also made from indigo fabric, which are shaped like a sharp triangle, 30 cm wide, with a long cloth string at the sharp end to tie. When used, the wide end is pressed against the ankle, after wrapping, use the cloth string to wrap back and tie at the ankle so that the leggings do not slip off.

The most special thing is the head scarf of Lo Lo women. It is the way women wrap their headscarves that creates the uniqueness in the costumes of the Black Lo Lo people. Ms. Duong Thi Thao, Ca Meng hamlet, Duc Hanh commune (Bao Lam) said: The head scarf of the Black Lo Lo women includes three types (two black scarves made of indigo fabric and one white scarf). The white scarf is rectangular, about 100 cm long and 30 cm wide. The black scarf is made of indigo fabric, there are two types: one is about 150 cm long and 40 cm wide. The other is about 130 cm long and 15 cm wide (folded and embroidered at both ends). When wearing the scarf, Lo Lo women tie their hair neatly on top of their heads, wrap the white scarf around the inside many times and leave enough to wrap around the outside. Next, use a wide indigo scarf to wrap around the head twice and wrap the white scarf around the black scarf, then toss one end of the black scarf behind the back. This scarf is long enough to reach the waist. Finally, wrap a narrow indigo scarf around the outside, and one end of the scarf is also threaded through and tossed behind the back. This scarf is just a little longer than the wearer's shoulder.

Black Lo Lo men's costumes are similar to the men's costumes of other ethnic groups in Cao Bang .

The black Lo Lo women's scarf wrapping technique must meet two standards: the scarf must cover the head and at the same time must "show off" all three types of scarves wrapped on the head. This scarf wrapping method has created a unique style for the black Lo Lo women.

In addition to their costumes, Black Lo Lo women often wear betel bags sewn from indigo fabric, measuring 10 cm x 8 cm, threaded by two strings made of colored threads. The two ends of the strings are strung with 10 - 12 coins for decoration. When wearing the bag, these coins are shown on the front of the belly. The betel bags are used by the people as a decoration for women. At the same time, Black Lo Lo women also use a variety of silver jewelry such as: necklaces, bracelets, pendants... Silver for Black Lo Lo people not only has aesthetic and spiritual elements but is also a dowry from parents to their daughters when they get married.

Black Lo Lo men dress quite simply with costumes quite similar to those of the Tay, Nung, and San Chi ethnic groups. Their costumes include: a head scarf made of indigo fabric, about 2 meters long, 40 centimeters wide, without decoration. When used, the scarf is folded four times lengthwise and wrapped around the head many times like the Kinh people's turban, the ends of the scarf are tucked behind the neck. The shirt is sewn from indigo fabric, cut into 5 panels, above the knee length, with armpits, slits on both sides, round neck, and buttons on the right armpit. The buttons are made of copper or plastic. From the armpit to the hem of the shirt is covered with a piece of fabric about 10 centimeters wide to make the shirt gradually flare out. Black Lo Lo men wear pants sewn from indigo fabric, lame-legged style, wide legs, and a seat-leaf waistband. During holidays, festivals, or weddings, black Lo Lo men often wear pants made of blue fabric.

The costume is a part of life, connecting the daily life and spirituality of the Lo Lo people. With the changes of time, life is getting closer to integration and exchange, but this costume is always the pride of the Lo Lo people in the highland villages.

Thanh Thuy

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/doc-dao-trang-phuc-dan-toc-lo-lo-den-3177190.html