The soul of the craft in the traditional dress of the homeland.

In modern life, traditional ao dai tailoring shops are becoming increasingly rare, but somewhere in Hai Phong, artisans quietly preserve the craft with perseverance and pride.

Ms. Quynh Anh always pays meticulous attention to every product she prepares for her customers. Photo: MINH TU

Every fold of fabric, every memory

Happily leaving the shop with her newly made ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), Ms. Nguyen Minh Tam, from Nguyen Cong Hoa Street (An Bien Ward), said: “My mother and sisters often have ao dai made here. Each dress is associated with an important family occasion, so we cherish them very carefully, valuing the meticulous work of the tailors who made them.”

Like Ms. Tâm, when mentioning the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) in Hai Phong , many people still remember the tailor shop on Phan Boi Chau Street owned by the family of Ms. Pham Ngoc Lien, who has been involved in the craft for nearly 60 years. She learned tailoring from her mother when she was only 16 years old. Her family has eight sisters. The Thu Huong tailor shop was initially named after the youngest sister, and gradually developed into a chain of seven famous shops owned by the seven sisters: Ngoc Dung, Ngoc Khanh, Ngoc Lien, Ngoc Loan, Ngoc Nguyet, Ngoc Phuong, and Ngoc Thuy. "Back then, the whole family lived solely on the sound of scissors and needles," she recounted, her eyes brightening as she spoke of the heyday.

Sewing is hard work but full of pride, because it not only provides a livelihood for her family but also helps Ms. Lien achieve many great milestones: First Prize in the 2002 National Ao Dai Design Competition, and the title of Artisan in Sewing in 2015. However, what touches her most are the stories of connecting customers with her family.

One day at the end of the year, a woman walked into the shop, clasped her hand tightly, and said, "Thirty years ago, you made my wedding ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress). Today, I've brought my daughter so she can also wear our ao dai on her big day." Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at her daughter, Do Thi Quynh Anh, who was now running the shop. That moment encapsulated the meaning of the traditional craft: a connecting thread between generations.

The springs linger on.

Mr. Hoi was careful and meticulous in every stitch.

Not far away, in Residential Area 42, Le Chan Ward, Mr. Bui Van Hoi, now over 60 years old, is still intently working at his cutting table. He learned the craft in the 1980s and fell in love with the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) from the first time he held scissors. "The ao dai reveals a woman's beauty in the most discreet and graceful way," Mr. Hoi said, his voice deep and warm.

His small tailor shop was always busy. Most of the customers were people who understood the value of meticulous craftsmanship. They wanted their garments to be measured, cut, and sewn perfectly by the tailor himself, every millimeter adjusted to their exact figure. Sometimes, a customer would order two or three sets at once, because they found in his ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) a level of attention to detail that no ready-made tailor could offer.

As Tet approaches, tailor shops specializing in traditional Vietnamese dresses (áo dài) continue to work tirelessly all day long. This isn't just about fulfilling orders, but because the tailors want to meticulously attend to every detail. A Tet áo dài is not just clothing; it's a wish, a spirit, and a symbol of a peaceful new year.

Amidst the vibrant spring, as flowing ao dai dresses flutter in the breeze, somewhere, artisans quietly pour their hearts into every fold of fabric. Thanks to them, traditional beauty is cherished and spread, each spring adorned with a fresh, warm, and memorable new garment.

HUYEN TRAM

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hon-nghe-trong-ta-ao-que-huong-535852.html