Preserving the soul of Dao Tien brocade at the top of Deo Gio Pass

In Deo Gio village, a group of Dao Tien women persevere every day at their embroidery frames, diligently working on each needle and thread. They are not only the ones who “keep the fire” of brocade embroidery alive, but are also striving to integrate ethnic culture into modern life with their talented hands and innovative spirit.

For a long time, embroidery has been an indispensable part of the lives of the Dao Tien people in Deo Gio (Ngan Son commune, Thai Nguyen province). Like many other women, Mrs. Ban Thi Thanh was taught each stitch and thread by her grandmothers and mothers since she was a child. Mrs. Thanh said that embroidery is a job that requires perseverance, meticulousness and creativity, so to make a scarf or hat, a Dao Tien woman has to spend several days. With more elaborate costumes or handbags, the completion time can last a week, even a month. After more than 40 years of working with the embroidery needle, Mrs. Thanh has now persistently taught many young girls in the village.

In 2023, the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group was established with 20 members.

“I am very proud that I teach my children and young people to embroider according to our ethnic customs, because if I don't teach them, they will lose the culture of our ethnic group,” Ms. Thanh shared.

Realizing the increasing demand for brocade products, Ms. Thanh and many other women joined together to bring embroidery products to the market. With the support of the Commune Women's Union, in 2023, the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group was born with 20 members. In the early days, the products were not many, the quality was not consistent, the promotion and customer approach were not effective... so despite the enthusiasm, the group still struggled to bring the products out of the local area.

Mrs. Ban Thi Thanh (right) instructs embroidery techniques to young girls in the village.

Thanks to technical training courses and sales instructions organized by the Commune Women's Union, the women gradually became more confident. In addition to embroidering correctly, they also learned how to perceive and combine colors in a harmonious way while still preserving the cultural essence. Typical motifs such as birds, animals, mountains, forests, flowers and leaves... are vividly expressed, each product is a story, a layer of cultural sediment passed down from generation to generation. Not too bright, just with basic colors such as indigo, ivory, red, blue, combined with silver accessories, Dao women in Deo Gio have created unique traditional costumes, with distinctive features and gradually received by customers.

The women take advantage of their free time, at noon or at night, to embroider products together.

Ms. Dang Thi Thanh, a member of the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group, said: "Our group embroiders shirts, hats, pants, bags, handbags, etc. It is very elaborate, laborious, and time-consuming. Embroidery sells everything, customers like scarves and hats the most, the simplest things."

Dao Tien women in Deo Gio have learned to apply information technology to promote embroidery products.

Not only selling directly, women also take advantage of technology to expand the market. Ms. Ban Thi Huong, a member of the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group, shared: "I find that now having social networks is very convenient, the embroidery group has a zalo group, when we have something to discuss, we discuss it via zalo or messenger... Then selling online, when there is a customer ordering, posting it online will be faster and more convenient."

Women boldly promote products through social networks.

Thanks to the bold and creative way of doing things, currently more than 30 brocade products from hats, shirts, scarves to handbags, shoulder bags are available in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Cao Bang... With the selling price from 150,000 to 500,000 VND/product, women have a significant additional source of income, just by taking advantage of their free time in the morning, evening or night. Ms. Ly Thi Lan, a member of the group "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" happily said: "Not only improving the economy , the cooperative model also strengthens the relationship between the village and the neighborhood. The members also support and advise each other. I participate in embroidering products, patterns that are Dao ethnic patterns, embroidering dogs, birds, things that ethnic people wear, whatever patterns there are, we learn from each other".

Some products of Deo Gio brocade embroidery group.

Nowadays, the image of Dao Tien women in Deo Gio livestreaming and posting products on social networks and e-commerce sites has become familiar. They not only preserve traditional crafts but also affirm the new role of highland women who dare to think, dare to do, dare to start a business, and boldly apply technology to become economically independent. In the flow of the digital age, Deo Gio women still preserve their own identity, turning traditional crafts into sustainable livelihoods, while adding confidence and motivation for many other highland women to rise up and take control of their lives.

The designs are simple but meticulously executed and many products are now available in major domestic markets.

vov.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-hon-tho-cam-nguoi-dao-tien-noi-dinh-deo-gio-post879521.html