Thai people in Vietnam’s Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces have improved their brocade weaving techniques to produce colorful silk-brocade fabric infused with their indigenous cultural identity.
The Thai people, divided into two subgroups: Black Thai and White Thai, are a prominent ethnic minority in the Southeast Asian nation, mainly residing in the northwest mountains and central regions.
They are recognized for their stilt houses, colorful textiles, and distinct culture.
From growing to weaving
Brocade weaving is a common cultural practice among the Thai ethnic population in Vietnam.
They manage every stage of production. This includes growing and harvesting cotton, spinning and dyeing yarn, and weaving finished products.
They also grow mulberry and raise silkworms to make silk thread.
Sam Thi Xuyet, a weaver from Hoa Tien Hamlet in Nghe An Province, explained the process: “We start growing the cotton in January, and harvest it in June. After picking the cotton, we remove the seeds and spin the cotton into yarn.”
“The most difficult part is weaving. To produce the desired patterns, we have to manually tie the threads on the loom,” she said.
Other ethnic groups typically use seven basic brocade colors, but Thai people in Hoa Tien Hamlet use 52 colors in working with raw silk, refined silk, cotton fabric, and linen.
They use rigorous techniques to create long-lasting natural dyes.
“Colors like yellow, green, and indigo come from homegrown plants. Fabrics are boiled with natural dye material and left to dry,” Sam Thi Thoa said.
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Protecting cultural heritage
“Every Thai girl is taught how to weave brocades by her mother and grandmother from a young age,” Ha Thi Nhan, from Lan Ngoai Village, Thanh Hoa Province, told the Vietnam News Agency.
She highlighted that preserving traditional crafts is not only a source of income but also a responsibility to protect their ancestors’ cultural heritage.
In recent years, authorities have revived and developed the craft in Lan Ngoai Village, connecting it to tourism development.
Lan Ngoai Village has grown in popularity as a tourist destination where visitors may see, experience, and purchase unique handicrafts.
Meanwhile, Sam Thi Bich, director of the Hoa Tien Hamlet Brocade Craft Cooperative, said that brocade weaving was on the verge of extinction a few years ago in their locality, but thanks to the dedication of locals and officials, the craft has reclaimed its place in the market.
Brocade weaving meets global markets
Hoa Tien Hamlet has two brocade weaving cooperatives that assist artisans in selling their products.
The weavers keep up with new trends and changing tastes – while maintaining their cultural identity – by expanding their product line.
Scarves, bags, blankets, cushions, decorative items, and souvenirs are sold at fairs and cultural events and shipped overseas to many countries.
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