From loom to new countryside - journey to preserve the color of the Earth with hemp hammock

Amidst the new pace of life in the countryside, people of Giai Xuan commune (former Tan Ky district) still preserve the traditional craft of weaving hemp hammocks. The skillful hands of Tho women not only create beautiful and durable products, but also contribute to preserving identity and building a sustainable new countryside.

In the mountainous commune of Giai Xuan ( Nghe An ), Tho ethnic women are still diligently preserving the traditional craft of weaving hemp hammocks. The skillful hands of Tho women not only create beautiful and durable products, but also contribute to preserving identity and building a sustainable new countryside. Photo: Xuan Hoang

At the Long Tho hamlet cultural house, every day you can see the image of Tho women sitting on the porch, their hands deftly weaving white hemp threads into traditional hammocks, which are popular in the market. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Ms. Truong Thi Thong, head of the Giai Xuan hemp hammock weaving cooperative, said: This profession has existed for a long time. In the past, every family grew hemp to get the fibers to weave hammocks. Now times have changed, but we still try to keep it because it is the profession our grandparents left behind. Photo: Xuan Hoang

To make a durable hemp hammock, the craftsman must go through many elaborate steps. From planting hemp, peeling, combing, spinning, to weaving and finishing, all require meticulousness and endurance. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to Ms. Thong, the cooperative currently has about 30 members maintaining the hammock weaving profession, mainly middle-aged and elderly women. Photo: Xuan Hoang

A complete hemp hammock takes 3 people about 5-7 days to complete. Hemp hammocks have the advantage of being cool in the summer, warm in the cold, and much more sturdy and durable than industrial hammocks. Photo: Xuan Hoang

To make a hemp hammock, the most difficult step is finishing the two ends of the hammock. To ensure the hammock ends are durable, the craftsman must spread the threads evenly, then weave the tension ball and pull the strings evenly and tightly. Otherwise, when using the hammock ends, they will quickly sag. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Each hammock sells for between 1.5 and 2.5 million VND. Although not much, the important thing is that the traditional craft is still preserved and this is also a place for community cultural activities of the members of the cooperative. Photo: Xuan Hoang

After separating the hemp bark, the silk fibers are taken out, dried, soaked in water to soften, and then hand-brushed to fluff. The fibers must be white, tough, and even. Then, the craftsman spins the fibers into rolls, places them on a wooden frame, and weaves them in a traditional mesh pattern. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Currently, the hemp hammock weaving cooperative in Giai Xuan commune has 10 sao of land for growing hemp (including land of the hamlet, commune and members of the cooperative), which is not enough to get raw materials for the job. Hemp plants are planted for 45 days, and can be harvested when they are nearly 2m tall. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Giai Xuan commune is incorporating the hemp hammock weaving craft into the new rural development program in the direction of conservation combined with development. The locality focuses on creating unique products for community tourism , contributing to increasing people's income and preserving the cultural identity of the Tho people in the middle of a wild natural space. Photo: Xuan Hoang

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/tu-khung-cui-den-nong-thon-moi-hanh-trinh-giu-sac-tho-bang-soi-vong-gai-10310961.html