Brocade colors at the foot of Hoang Lien mountain

The Lu people in Bai Trau village have a long tradition of growing cotton, weaving, and embroidering. Every time the harvest season ends, the simple stilt houses are filled with the sound of shuttles and the lively chatter of women and girls around the looms. With skillful hands, from local materials such as cotton and flax dyed with forest leaves, the women in the village have created indigo fabrics as the basis for unique hand embroidery techniques.

Skillful hands weave rustic indigo fabrics.

Lu women do not weave patterns with colored threads during the weaving process, but complete the fabric first, then embroider the patterns directly onto it. With skillful hand embroidery techniques, women create decorative patterns from geometric lines, diamonds, spirals, water waves, flowers, suns, etc. These are all traditional motifs with symbolic meaning associated with folk beliefs and knowledge. The main colors are red, yellow, blue, etc. standing out on a dark indigo background, creating a harmonious, eye-catching yet elegant whole.

Traditional loom in the brocade weaving craft of the Lu people.

However, in recent years, the traditional brocade weaving profession of the Lu people has faced many challenges. The use of traditional costumes in daily life has declined, especially among young people. Many young people leave their villages to work far away, and few are still interested in the old profession. The teaching of the profession has therefore also faded away. Meanwhile, the products are difficult to sell because of high prices, narrow markets, mainly serving festivals or seasonal tourists .

The Lu people persistently preserve the traditional brocade weaving profession.

However, there are still some hands quietly keeping the craft alive. The grandmothers and mothers in Bai Trau village still persistently teach their children how to dye indigo, embroider patterns, and sew dresses to wear during weddings and holidays. Some households maintain hand weaving, produce small products such as bags, wallets, scarves, etc., and find ways to connect with the community tourism market.

Peaceful life by the loom.

In order to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Lu ethnic group, the Ban Hon commune government coordinated with the district cultural center to open classes to teach weaving and embroidery to women and young people in the village. Some households organized production groups to preserve traditional weaving and embroidery techniques and open up directions for developing handicraft products associated with local tourism development.

Within the framework of the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism continues to restore, preserve and develop the traditional cultural identity of very small ethnic minorities, including the Lu ethnic group in Lai Chau province.

In addition to activities of organizing surveys, investigations, statistics, and collecting general information about the Lu ethnic group, performing arts and folk games... brocade weaving is also subject to survey and investigation. Thereby, the authorities have gradually implemented activities to support the practice of traditional crafts from providing materials and means, organizing training, teaching to promoting products at cultural festivals, photo exhibitions, introducing brocade weaving through videos , clips...

Traditional costumes are a sign of national identity.

At the same time, through the Project on Preserving and Promoting Traditional Costumes of Vietnamese Ethnic Minorities, communication, consultation, connection and promotion of Lu brocade products to tourists have been gradually carried out to preserve and promote the value of Lu ethnic brocade weaving in Lai Chau province.

Preserving the traditional cultural identity of the Lu ethnic group.

Brocade is not simply a fabric, it is also a living cultural language of the ethnic group. Each embroidery line and stitch is a vestige of many generations of ancestors who have accumulated, entrusted and carried with them the memories, experiences, folk knowledge, aesthetic concepts and pride of an entire community.

People who diligently preserve the cultural identity of the Lu ethnic group.

In today’s life, Lu ethnic women in Bai Trau are still working hard at their looms, weaving traditional colors for contemporary life. The clattering sound of the shuttle every morning and evening is not only the sound of labor but also the cultural rhythm of a people who are devoting their efforts to preserving their identity at the foot of Hoang Lien Mountain.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/sac-tho-cam-duoi-chan-nui-hoang-lien-post878732.html