Preserving the 'soul' of brocade weaving on Gió Pass.

In Deo Gio village, Ngan Son commune, Dao Tien women diligently work at their embroidery frames, meticulously stitching each thread, preserving the traditional brocade embroidery craft while integrating ethnic culture into modern life with their skillful hands and creative spirit.

Dao Tien women in Deo Gio Pass embroider and sew products from brocade fabric together.

On the summit of Deo Gio Pass in Ngan Son commune, amidst the fresh air and houses hidden in the clouds, the rhythmic sound of looms echoes daily. Beside their simple embroidery frames, Dao Tien women diligently work with each stitch, imbuing their ethnic spirit into each vibrant piece of brocade fabric. For them, brocade embroidery is not just a means of livelihood but also a way to preserve their cultural soul in the modern world.

For generations, embroidery has been an indispensable part of the lives of the Dao Tien people in Deo Gio.

Each pattern and color not only showcases the skill of the women but also contains stories about the mountains, forests, people, and beliefs of the Dao Tien people. The lines and patterns depicting birds, animals, flowers, leaves, or rolling mountains are all reflections of nature and a rich spiritual life cherished and passed down through generations.

On a crisp morning in Deo Gio Pass, Ban Thi Thanh, over 30 years old, sits on the porch, her hands nimbly moving the needle on a piece of brocade fabric she's working on. Her small house nestles against the hillside, its front offering a view of the majestic mountains shrouded in early morning mist. On the porch, rows of golden corn hang neatly, glistening in the morning sun. Just below, pumpkins are stacked neatly, creating a simple yet heartwarming picture of life in the highlands.

Ms. Ban Thi Thanh (on the left) embroiders patterns on the traditional clothing of Dao Tien women.

Ms. Thanh recounts that she taught herself embroidery from the age of 13, and later received further instruction from her grandmothers and mothers. Her love for the craft came naturally, starting when she was a child and her mother made her a traditional ethnic costume. As she grew older, Ms. Thanh increasingly wanted to create products that reflected the unique identity of the Dao Tien people. Now, she not only makes clothing for herself but also sells it, contributing to promoting the traditional culture of her ethnic group to the outside world.

Ms. Thanh said: "As a Dao Tien woman, everyone must know how to make the traditional costumes of our ethnic group. Each costume takes a lot of time and effort, but I really enjoy it because it's also a way to preserve our cultural identity."

Recognizing the growing demand for brocade products, in 2023, Ms. Thanh and many other women established the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group with 20 members.

In the early days, the products were few, the quality was inconsistent, and promotion was limited. However, with support from the Women's Association of the commune through technical training courses and sales guidance, the group members gradually became more confident and learned how to introduce and bring their products to customers.

Not only do the women in the group meticulously practice each stitch with the correct technique, but they also learn how to coordinate colors harmoniously while preserving the essence of their ethnic culture. The brocade fabrics, crafted by their skillful hands, possess both exquisite beauty and a rich ethnic identity.

Hand-embroidered products made by Dao Tien women in Deo Gio.

According to Ms. Ly Thi Sinh, 62, a member of the group, each person has their own strength: some embroider shirts, some make hats, and those with skillful hands sew handbags and shoulder bags. Thanks to the reasonable division of labor, the group's products are becoming increasingly diverse and popular with many customers.

"Even though I'm old, I still enjoy making traditional ethnic costumes. I often teach the women and young girls in the village how to make them; many of them are quite young but already know how to embroider patterns on dresses and blouses very skillfully," Mrs. Sinh said.

Not only do the women of Deo Gio produce goods, but they also boldly apply technology to promote their products.

Ms. Ban Thi Chuong, a member of the group, said: "Since the advent of social media, communication and work exchange have become much easier. We have a Zalo group to share orders, learn new techniques, and sell products online to reach customers faster. This method helps them expand their market, bringing their brocade products beyond their village to customers in Hanoi , Hai Phong, Cao Bang, and other places."

Currently, the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group has over 30 diverse product designs such as hats, shirts, scarves, handbags, and shoulder bags, with prices ranging from 150,000 to 500,000 VND per item. Each product is not only the result of skillful craftsmanship but also a symbol of love for their homeland and a desire to preserve and spread cultural identity in contemporary life.

Nowadays, the image of Dao Tien women in Deo Gio organizing live streams to sell their products, posting them on social media, and chatting with customers from all over has become familiar. They are not only guardians of traditional crafts but also highland women who dare to think, dare to act, dare to start businesses, and dare to step out of the boundaries of their villages to integrate their ethnic culture into the modern world.

Amidst the powerful currents of the digital age, the Dao Tien women of Deo Gio quietly preserve their unique identity through each brocade fabric and each specific product. They not only transform the traditional cultural values ​​of their ancestors into sustainable livelihoods but also inspire and motivate many other women in the highlands to boldly rise up and take control of their lives with their own hands and abilities.

The image of the woman at Deo Gio Pass by her loom remains a beautiful symbol of perseverance, creativity, and national pride—values ​​that are being woven day by day in the highlands of Thai Nguyen .

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tin-moi/202510/giu-hon-tho-cam-tren-deo-gio-3f538df/