Linh Phuong and the journey to awaken the colors of brocade

I first encountered Linh Phuong’s “work” not in a fashion show, but in an art program. At that time, a female singer stepped onto the stage in an ao dai embellished with delicate brocade patterns, both familiar and strange. Familiar because of the colors and patterns; strange because of the modern, elegant combination while still maintaining the traditional features. I asked myself: Who was the one who brought brocade to the stage in such a simple yet attractive way?

Out of curiosity, I made an appointment to meet Linh Phuong - the person behind those designs that carry the breath of the highlands to hear her share about her love for brocade and her journey with the profession. The appointment took place in an afternoon at her small workshop in Yen Bai ward. Not elaborate or lavishly displayed, the workshop only has a few sewing machines, cutting tables and colorful fabrics. Linh Phuong talked to me gently and openly, talking about brocade with enthusiasm as if she was telling a familiar story that has followed her since childhood.

Born in Muong Lo, a land rich in traditional ethnic culture, Linh Phuong was familiar with the image of her mother and grandmother sitting at the loom since childhood. However, her passion for brocade came from a business trip to the highlands. She said that in the midst of the deep green mountains and forests, those patterns seemed to have their own vitality, making the whole mountain and forest brighter. She was drawn to that beauty and from then on, brocade became a part of her work and her life.

That love has followed Linh Phuong for more than ten years in the profession. For her, each design is not only a fashion product, but also a way to preserve and tell the story of national culture. "Brocade design requires patience, each stitch, each pattern is woven by the hands of women, carrying its own breath. When applying it to the design, I always respect that, not cutting and pasting arbitrarily but choosing to honor the original rusticity," Linh Phuong shared.

Therefore, in her collections, brocade is never the “main character” but is only a moderate highlight on the collar, sleeves or belt, as a way for her to skillfully bring identity into modern life without making the wearer feel distant. Ms. Vu Thi Quy - a close colleague of Linh Phuong since the early days of entering the profession said: “Phuong works with true passion. Every time she has a new brocade piece, she can sit for hours just to think about where to place the pattern and how to coordinate the colors to create harmony. Working with Phuong, I also love brocade even more.”

Up to now, Linh Phuong has released more than 100 collections, with names that, just hearing them, evokes the spirit of the Northwest: "Sacred Red Mountains", "Mispics of Mountains", "Weaving the Colors of the High Mountains", "Flower Season Weaving the Sun"... Each collection is a story about people, about mountains and forests, about the enduring values in national life.

Not only appearing in art programs or cultural festivals, Linh Phuong's brocade costumes are also chosen by many artists when performing. Choreographer Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai shared: "Linh Phuong's costumes make actors more confident, skillfully combining traditional and modern elements, helping to highlight charm and cultural pride".

As for young customers like Cao Thuy Dung, Linh Phuong's costumes have a different appeal: "I like them because they are familiar yet luxurious. The unique combination of tradition and modernity gives us our own style. Perhaps because Ms. Phuong makes them with all her heart, the costumes have soul."

When asked what makes her continue to pursue brocade, Linh Phuong smiled: “Each brocade pattern has its own soul, not only as a decorative motif but also as a memory, a story of the village. I want to bring those memories out of the loom and into today's life.” It is known that Linh Phuong plans to develop more high-application product lines such as shirts, office dresses, and streetwear in the near future so that people can wear brocade every day.

I left the workshop when the sun was setting. Through the window, I could still see her meticulously working on her needle and thread. Amidst the humming sound of the sewing machine, the glittering light on the brocade thread seemed to reflect her never-ending passion.

Brocade, through the hands of Linh Phuong, is not only a memory, a culture but has become the breath of the present, taking on a beauty that is both new and familiar. Thanks to people like Linh Phuong, brocade has truly stepped out of the village weaving loom, taking on a new, modern appearance that is still imbued with the Vietnamese soul.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/linh-phuong-va-hanh-trinh-danh-thuc-sac-mau-tho-cam-post884788.html