Preserving the 'soul' of brocade on Deo Gio

Dao Tien women in Deo Gio embroider and sew brocade products together.

On the top of Deo Gio Pass, Ngan Son commune, amidst the fresh air and the roofs hidden in the clouds, the sound of the loom resounds regularly every day. Next to the rustic embroidery frames, Dao Tien women still diligently work each needle and thread, conveying the soul of their people in each colorful brocade fabric. For them, brocade embroidery is not only a way to earn a living but also a way to preserve the cultural soul in modern life.

For generations, embroidery has become an indispensable part of the life of the Dao Tien people in Deo Gio.

Each pattern and each color not only shows the ingenuity of women but also contains stories about the mountains, forests, people and beliefs of the Dao Tien people. The lines of patterns of birds, animals, flowers or rolling mountains are all reflections of nature, of the rich spiritual life that has been cherished and passed down through many generations.

On a fresh morning in Deo Gio, Ms. Ban Thi Thanh, over 30 years old, sits on the porch, her hands nimbly moving the needle on the unfinished brocade fabric. Her small house leans against the hillside, in front of her opens a scene of mountains covered in morning mist. On the porch, rows of golden corn are hung in neat rows, sparkling in the morning sun. Right below, pumpkins are stacked neatly, creating a simple yet warm picture of life in the highlands.

Ms. Ban Thi Thanh (left) embroiders patterns on Dao Tien women's costumes.

Ms. Thanh said that she learned to embroider by herself when she was 13 years old, and then received additional instruction from her grandmothers and mothers. Her love for the craft came naturally, starting from when she was young when her mother made her a set of ethnic clothes. As she grew older, Ms. Thanh wanted to create her own products that carried the identity of the Dao Tien people. Now, Ms. Thanh not only makes clothes for herself but also makes them to sell, contributing to promoting the traditional culture of her people to the outside world.

Ms. Thanh said: As a Dao Tien woman, everyone must know how to make traditional costumes of their ethnic group. Each costume takes a lot of time and effort, but I really like it, because it is also a way to preserve cultural identity.

Realizing the increasing demand for brocade products, in 2023, Ms. Thanh and many other women founded the "Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery" group with 20 members.

In the early days, there were few products, the quality was not consistent, and promotion was limited. However, with the support from the Commune Women's Union through technical training courses and sales guidance, the group members gradually became more confident, knowing how to introduce and bring products to customers.

Not only do they take care of each stitch with the right technique, the women in the group also learn how to combine colors in a harmonious way while still preserving the cultural spirit of their nation. The brocade fabrics are completed by skillful hands, possessing both delicate beauty and rich national identity.

Hand-embroidered products of Dao Tien Deo Gio women.

According to Ms. Ly Thi Sinh, 62 years old, a member of the group, each person has their own strengths: some embroider shirts, some make hats, and the skillful ones sew handbags and messenger bags. Thanks to the reasonable division of labor, the group's products are increasingly diverse and are loved by many customers.

"Even though I'm old, I still like to make my ethnic costumes. I often teach the women and children in the village how to make costumes. Many of them are quite young but already know how to embroider patterns on dresses very skillfully," said Ms. Sinh.

Not only stopping at making products, Deo Gio women also boldly apply technology to promote products.

Ms. Ban Thi Chuong, a member of the group, said: since the social network, communication and work exchange have become much more convenient, there is a Zalo group to share orders, learn new techniques, and at the same time sell online to reach customers faster. This method helps them expand the market, bring brocade products beyond the village, to customers in Hanoi , Hai Phong, Cao Bang...

Currently, the “Deo Gio Brocade Embroidery” group has more than 30 diverse product designs such as hats, shirts, scarves, handbags, and shoulder bags, with prices ranging from 150,000 to 500,000 VND per product. Each product is not only the result of ingenuity but also a symbol of love for the homeland, of the desire to preserve and spread cultural identity in today's life.

Nowadays, the image of Dao Tien women in Deo Gio organizing livestreams to sell products, posting products on social networks, and chatting with customers everywhere has become familiar. They are not only the preservers of traditional crafts, but also the highland women who dare to think, dare to do, dare to start a business, dare to step out of the village boundaries to bring ethnic culture into the modern flow.

In the strong flow of the digital age, the Dao Tien women in Deo Gio still quietly preserve their own identity through each brocade fabric and each specific product model. They not only turn the traditional cultural values of their ancestors into a sustainable livelihood, but also add confidence and motivation for many other highland women to boldly rise up and take control of their lives with their own hands and courage.

The image of women in Deo Gio with their looms is still a beautiful symbol of perseverance, creativity and national pride, valuable values that are being woven every day in the highlands of Thai Nguyen .

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tin-moi/202510/giu-hon-tho-cam-tren-deo-gio-3f538df/