Brocade is the traditional costume of the Northwest ethnic minority people. Each costume has different designs, colors and patterns with its own meaning, expressing people’s conceptions of life. Coming to Vietnam Customized Tours to the Northwest, the most popular souvenirs for travelers besides food are handmade products – including brocade because of its outstanding cultural value.
Raw materials for making brocade
The main material to create these unique handmade works is cotton fibers. Some ethnic groups also exploit other naturally available materials such as tree bark to spin into fibers.
(Raw materials for making brocade in Northwest Vietnam)
Northwest brocade often uses main colors such as white, yellow, purple, red, and green. All of these colors are created from dyeing forest leaves. Red color is taken from indigo tree bark, gac fruit,…; Yellow color is taken from turmeric, gardenia, carrot,…; Green color is taken from indigo leaves, moc leaves, galangal leaves,…
Brocade making process
From seasonal cotton harvests, people in this land will whip them to make them loose, then pull them into thin fibers. To create color for textile fibers, ethnic minorities often use dyeing methods with natural ingredients for 2-3 days. The fibers are then dried. The dyer uses a brush, brushing along the roll of yarn to remove color chips and tree bark.
(Brocade making process in Northwest Vietnam)
Unlike the Central and Southern ethnic people, who create patterns directly when weaving the yarn, the Northern ethnic people’s brocade is often assembled with colored fabric patches and then embroidered with patterns on top. With her skillful hands and aesthetic sense, women weave brocade fabrics imbued with national identity. Can be woven on a handloom or by hand.
Brocade of ethnic groups in Northwest Vietnam
Brocade of Thai people
Thai brocade is extremely unique with more than 30 different types of patterns and motifs vividly displayed on the brocade background. On Thai brocade costumes, there are often animals that represent the strength and authority of the Thai people. The couple’s clothes are often embroidered with the image of an otter – a symbol of eternal love and a happy family. Thai people use main colors on brocade fabric such as green, red, pink, white, and yellow.
(Brocade of Thai people in Northwest Vietnam)
Brocade of the Dao people
The main color of Dao brocade is bright red. Open embroidery technique (revealing the black or indigo background on the motifs) has the effect of reducing the brilliance of the solid colors. The process that requires the most effort and meticulousness of the Dao people is embroidering decorative patterns. Brocade fabrics of the Dao people are often embroidered with spirals, pumpkin flowers or flowers, plants, and birds. If you have the opportunity to go to Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son in Vietnam Private Tours, you can rent these costumes to take photos and buy them as souvenirs.
(Brocade of the Dao people in Northwest Vietnam)
Brocade of the Mong people
Like the Dao people, the Mong people also mainly use flax to weave brocade. Through 41 stages, from the original flax bark, the Mong people have created soft, brilliant brocade panels. For Mong women, spinning yarn and weaving flax takes the most time and effort. However, perhaps the process of drawing wax on fabric before dyeing it is what attracts tourists in the lowlands the most. The main colors are blue, red, purple, yellow on a black linen background.
(Brocade of the Mong people in Northwest Vietnam)
Brocade of the Ha Nhi people
When you come to Lao Cao, Dien Bien, Lai Chau in Vietnam Customized Tours, it is not difficult to meet Ha Nhi people wearing brocade. A Ha Nhi woman’s outfit also includes a full scarf, shirt, belt and bib. But the most notable feature of the Ha Nhi people’s costume is the head scarf. The scarves are woven from forest bark fibers to create a very eye-catching decorative wig. The costumes of the Ha Nhi people stand out with curved edges like water waves and clouds. The silver coin on the costume represents the desire to be full and has the effect of avoiding harmful winds.
(Brocade of the Ha Nhi people in Northwest Vietnam)
Brocade of the Muong people
In Muong country, brocade weaving is not simply a job but also has a deep connection with cultural traditions. Researchers have counted up to 40 patterns on the skirt waistband of the Muong people. These are mainly popular patterns on the Dong Son bronze drum surface. Motifs on Muong brocade are mainly stylized from flowers and leaves such as chestnut flowers, star anise, canarium fruit, etc. They are things associated with nature and people of Muong.
(Brocade of the Muong people in Northwest Vietnam)
Northwest brocade is a unique cultural beauty of highland ethnic minorities. It is not only a handicraft product, but also an important part of the material and spiritual life of the people here. During Vietnam Private Tours, visitors will have the opportunity to try on these brocade costumes and buy them as gifts for relatives. It will be an unforgettable experience in everyone’s life.
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