Breathing life into community tourism with brocade weaving

In recent years, Kep village (Ia Ly commune, Gia Lai province) has become a bright spot in developing community tourism associated with preserving traditional culture. Here, the brocade weaving craft of the Jrai people has not only been revived but also breathed new life into it, becoming a unique tourism product, attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

From a traditional craft, brocade weaving of the Jrai people is becoming a unique tourism product.

Brocade tells stories in the Central Highlands

Coming to Kep village, visitors are easily attracted by the image of looms set up close together next to the porch of the stilt house, where Jrai artisans diligently shuttle, weaving characteristic patterns that embody the spirit of the mountains and forests.

Each piece of cloth is a story, a slice of culture rich in national identity, passed down from generation to generation.

Ms. Ro Cham Suynh, a member of the Kep Village Brocade Weaving Cooperative, shared: “My mother taught me how to weave, and from this craft I can make bags, pants, and shirts. In addition, the weaving craft now also serves tourists, and visitors come to see it. Thanks to this, we can preserve our traditional craft and earn more income to improve our lives.”

The patterns on the fabric simulate nature and daily life of the community.

Jrai brocade uses three main colors: black, red and white. The patterns on the fabric simulate nature and the daily life of the community: images of birds, flowers, people, household items... with high symbolic value.

According to Ms. Ro Cham Hao, an artisan in the village: “Weaving is to not forget the customs from ancient times, making loincloths, bags, and scarves. When tourists come, they like small bags, big bags, and scarves. We make them to buy, to keep the craft alive.”

Each brocade product is not only a souvenir but also a bridge between tourists and indigenous culture, a symbol of the connection between conservation and development.

Not only stopping at preserving the traditional craft, Ms. H Uyen Nie (38 years old), the initiator of the Kep village brocade weaving cooperative, has boldly proposed a new direction: linking weaving with community tourism development.

She shared: “When artisans weave products, the value is high, but the demand from customers is not much. Therefore, we changed the way we do things by developing the products into souvenirs. For example, a piece of fabric can be sewn into bags, wallets or small items, thereby meeting the needs of customers when experiencing the weaving profession.”

Participating in the community tourism model, artisans will enjoy the results and receive additional remuneration.

Ms. H Uyen Nie's creativity does not stop at products. In 2019, she campaigned to establish a Brocade Weaving Association associated with community tourism in Kep village, starting with 15 members. After only 5 years, the number of members has doubled. The model operates on a rotational basis, giving all artisans the opportunity to participate in guiding tourists and selling their products.

“We prioritize poor women artisans. When they directly participate in the community tourism model, they will enjoy the results and receive additional remuneration. From there, they will have more motivation to preserve their profession and culture,” Ms. H Uyen Nie shared.

This model not only increases people's income but also contributes to spreading the spirit of autonomy and self-reliance in the community, especially among women in ethnic minority areas.

Need to be energized to spread

Kep Village currently welcomes 4,000-5,000 visitors each year. Although this number is not large, it is a positive signal in the context of community tourism models in the Central Highlands being quite modest.

Contributing to that success, we cannot fail to mention artisans like Mrs. Ro Cham Monh, who is over 70 years old this year, still diligently working at the loom every day. Despite her advanced age, she still maintains her skillful hands, weaving sophisticated patterns, demonstrating her tireless spirit of preserving identity.

She confided: “I hope the younger generation will continue the weaving profession of their ancestors. Even though it is difficult, let’s try. When weaving, we can both preserve the cultural beauty and earn extra income when customers buy the fabric.”

Tourists come to experience community tourism and brocade weaving in Kep village.

The local government also clearly recognizes the role and potential of this model. Chairman of the People's Committee of Ia Ly Commune, Nguyen Tien Dung, commented: "The community tourism model associated with the brocade weaving profession in Kep village is becoming a highlight of the locality. Ms. H Uyen Nie is an energetic and creative person, always looking for ways to create jobs for poor women. We are considering recruiting her to the payroll to ensure the work of advising on the development of community culture and tourism for the commune."

Currently, Ms. H Uyen Nie is actively connecting with travel agencies to bring visitors to Kep village, while also seeking resources to expand the common living space, a place to teach crafts, display products and welcome visitors. For her, each brocade fabric is a “cultural message” that needs to be conveyed with both mind and heart.

The revival of Kep village’s weaving craft associated with community tourism is a vivid demonstration of the Party and State’s policy of socio-economic development associated with the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values. Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW of the Politburo on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector emphasized: “Tourism development must be associated with environmental protection, preserving and promoting national cultural identity”.

Artisans pass on their passion for brocade weaving to future generations.

The Government has also issued many policies to support socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, creating conditions for localities like Ia Ly to promote their indigenous potential.

Kep village today is no longer a quiet Central Highlands village. The bustling sound of looms, the colorful brocades, the skillful hands and the wholeheartedness of the people, especially Ms. H'Uyen Nie, are writing a new journey: the journey of preserving, developing and spreading Jrai culture.

The story of Kep village is a testament to the right direction: combining cultural preservation and community tourism development, not only contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the people, but also illuminating traditional values ​​in the midst of today's modern life.

PHUC THANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thoi-hon-cho-du-lich-cong-dong-bang-nghe-det-tho-cam-post914782.html