Hoa Tien Brocade - Cultural imprint from the hands of Thai women

NDO - Hoa Tien Village (Chau Tien Commune, Quy Chau District, Nghe An Province) has long been considered a “living museum” preserving the traditional culture of the Thai people in the Northwest region of Nghe An. In that treasure, brocade weaving not only contributes to beautifying life but is also a symbol of identity, preserved and passed down through many generations.

Thai women in Hoa Tien village are famous for their skillful hands, especially in weaving techniques. Over the years, they have maintained their diligent lifestyle, working hard at the loom, paying attention to each thread and silk thread. Each brocade piece is a story told through sophisticated colors and patterns - a place where the spirit, memories and folk knowledge of a community converge.

Traditional textile materials are mainly cotton and silk, dyed from forest leaves such as indigo, vang, yam, and huang yang, etc., creating a natural, rustic, and durable color palette. The patterns on each piece of fabric reflect the Thai people’s worldview with images of animals, flowers, leaves, the sun, bauhinia flowers, and poinsettias.

Not only decorative, these motifs are also a visual language carrying cultural messages preserved as part of the community's memory, creating the unmistakable mark of Hoa Tien brocade.

Unlike mass-produced industrial textile products, Hoa Tien brocade retains its original appearance, bearing the personal mark of the creator. However, the weaving profession here is also facing many challenges. The rapid development of the market and changes in lifestyle have made handmade products no longer popular in daily life. Young people are less attached to the profession because of low income, long apprenticeship time and the need for perseverance and meticulousness.

Faced with this situation, with the support of local authorities and cultural organizations, many cooperatives and brocade weaving models have been established. Hoa Tien Brocade Weaving Cooperative currently gathers dozens of dedicated artisans, united in gradually finding a new direction for the traditional profession.

Brocade products are designed to better suit modern needs and tastes: from traditional costumes to bed sheets, handbags, wallets, scarves, decorations...

Currently, Hoa Tien brocade is present in many international markets, contributing to increasing people's income and spreading the cultural values ​​of the Thai ethnic group in Western Nghe An .

Each brocade woven from Hoa Tien village is not only a product of skillful hands, but also a crystallization of culture, history, folk knowledge and the resilience of the community. Weaving is therefore not only a traditional craft, but also a symbol of cultural identity that needs to be preserved and developed sustainably.

In an effort to preserve the weaving profession, the young generation of Hoa Tien village is gradually becoming a promising successor force. Learning the craft from their grandmothers and mothers, many young people have boldly applied brocade materials to modern designs such as fashion clothes, accessories, and souvenirs.

Some entrepreneurs have successfully started their own brand of brocade products, which are both traditional and trendy.

They actively bring Hoa Tien brocade to cultural events, startup festivals, fashion weeks, organize dyeing and weaving workshops and promote on social networks.

The creativity, acumen and innovative spirit of young people are breathing new life into the traditional weaving profession, making Hoa Tien brocade more widely spread, more popular and better known.

Along with efforts to preserve the craft, the community tourism model associated with experiencing indigenous culture is also being effective in Hoa Tien village. Visitors coming here not only admire the mountain and forest scenery but also directly participate in the traditional weaving process: from picking mulberry leaves, raising silkworms, spinning thread, dyeing fabric to listening to stories about the origin of patterns and trying on traditional costumes.

These experiences help young people and tourists understand more deeply, appreciate more the labor and value of handmade brocade products, and at the same time arouse love for the traditional culture of the local people here.

In the constantly changing flow of modern life, building the brand "Hoa Tien brocade" as a typical product of Nghe An not only affirms its economic value but is also an important lever to elevate indigenous culture.

From rustic brocades, the Thai people in Hoa Tien village are diligently weaving thousands of strong threads connecting the past and the future, preserving the cultural core in every stitch so that tradition can continue to live and blend into today's life.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tho-cam-hoa-tien-dau-an-van-hoa-tu-ban-tay-nguoi-phu-nu-thai-post880289.html