Sung village: Weaving brocade, weaving livelihoods for Dao Tien women

"Awakening" the old profession

In the midst of the vast mountains and forests of Cao Son (Phu Tho), Sung village appears like a pristine silence. The nature here still retains its rustic appearance and people still diligently preserve the traditional values of their people. In that peaceful space, the sound of weaving, the sound of sewing machines, the smell of indigo and the brilliant brocade colors are the result of "reviving" an ancient profession - brocade weaving of Dao Tien women.

Stepping into the small room of THT Dao Tien brocade in Sung village, visitors are easily attracted by the passionate working atmosphere of the sisters. Skillful and meticulous hands pass the yarn through the loom, each needle and stitch are placed in the right position, creating patterns imprinted with Dao Tien culture. Each product is not only a handicraft, but also a crystallization of memory, folklore and pride of identity.

In recent years, the pristine natural scenery of Sung hamlet has increasingly attracted tourists to visit and experience. In addition to exploring the mountains and forests, the most popular activity is to directly participate in dyeing fabrics and weaving brocade with local people. It is also an opportunity for the traditional profession that was once in danger of being "awakened" by a new direction - associated with community tourism.

Since childhood, Dao Tien women in Sung village have been passed down the art of weaving by their grandmothers and mothers. Photo: Lý Thị Hằng

In 2019, stemming from the desire to create sustainable livelihoods for Dao Tien women, and at the same time take advantage of traditional cultural identity, Dao Tien brocade THT in Sung village was established. Initially, there were many difficulties, but up to now, THT has gathered 12 members with relatively stable incomes. The special thing is that among them are women who are disabled, or families with particularly difficult circumstances. However, everyone is diligent and dedicated to their work. They see this not only as a livelihood but also as a way to affirm their self-worth.

Keeping the soul in every needle and thread

Carefully putting each needle on the brocade that is being embroidered, Ms. Ly Thi Nhat, a member of THT, shared that, since childhood, Dao Tien women in Sung village have been taught weaving by their grandmothers and mothers. Growing cotton, spinning yarn, dyeing indigo, embroidering patterns to sew dresses is familiar to each Dao girl before she grows up. Therefore, when participating in THT, women do not encounter many surprises. The biggest change is access to more tailoring skills, using modern sewing machines through local projects and support programs and organizations.

Notably, among the members of the cooperative, there are women with disabilities as well as those from families in especially difficult circumstances. Photo: Lý Thị Hằng.

Despite the support of technology, the core stages such as fabric weaving and indigo dyeing are still maintained by THT according to traditional methods. To complete a brocade, the Dao woman must prepare extremely elaborate materials. It's all handmade, requiring patience, ingenuity, and intense concentration. Each thread must be even, each pattern must be accurate, because each motif has its own meaning, associated with the spiritual life and aesthetic concept of the Dao Tien people.

Weaving livelihoods

Not stopping at weaving fabrics for sewing traditional costumes, THT members have created and applied brocade patterns to many modern products such as bags, wallets, scarves, keychains, backpacks, etc. The indigo dyeing technique is also exploited as a unique travel experience, helping visitors better understand the process of making a traditional handmade product. At the same time, it also contributes to increasing revenue for THT.

Thanks to actively promoting on social networks, Dao Tien Xom Sung brocade products are becoming more and more well-known. The items range in price from 200,000 to 500,000 VND/product, suitable for the needs of gifts and souvenirs of tourists. Each year, the revenue from the sale of brocade products reaches hundreds of millions of VND, not to mention the revenue from weaving and fabric dyeing experience guidance services.

According to Ms. Ly Thi Hang, Head of Dao Tien Brocade THT in Sung village, although the current economic efficiency is not large, but the most important thing is that THT has contributed to preserving and promoting the traditional profession of the Dao Tien ethnic group. More importantly, this model has created jobs, helped many disadvantaged women have a stable income, gradually rise in life, and be more confident in their roles.

The products of the Dao Tien Brocade Cooperative in Sưng hamlet are sold directly in the village to serve tourists coming for visits and cultural experiences. Photo: Lý Thị Hằng.

Towards the OCOP brand

Not only stopping at selling handmade products, THT Dao Tien Xom Sung brocade is gradually standardizing the production process, completing packaging and building a brand story towards OCOP certification. According to Ms. Hang, this is a necessary step to improve product value and expand the market.

"We understand that in order to be recognized by OCOP, it is not only necessary to have beautiful products, but also to ensure uniform quality, have a clear story and the ability to meet large orders. That is the motivation for us to constantly learn and improve," Ms. Hang shared.

Members of the Dao Tien Brocade Cooperative in Sưng village creatively incorporate traditional brocade motifs into a variety of modern products, including handbags, wallets, scarves, keychains, and backpacks. Photo: Lý Thị Hằng

In the long term, in order to meet the increasing demand of the market and develop sustainable community tourism, THT wishes to continue to receive the attention and support of authorities at all levels in investing in facilities and experience spaces. At the same time, women also hope to be trained to improve their skills, design new products, and diversify designs so that Dao Tien brocade is not only present in the village, but also follows tourists to many other regions.

In the midst of the modern pace of life that is creeping into every alley, the looms in Sung hamlet still sound steadily. There, each thread and each brocade is still woven into a commodity product. And it also weaves faith and hope for a future where cultural identity is preserved along with sustainable livelihoods for people in the highlands.