Team members gather for embroidery exchanges
The pattern on the “yếm” (a traditional piece of clothing) is an essential part of the Dao women's attire. A typical Dao woman's outfit consists of multiple elements, including the “yếm”, long dress, pants, headscarf, hat, and waist belt. The primary color is black, which is then embroidered with bright and vibrant patterns that serve as decorative accents. The women learn to embroider under the careful guidance of their mothers and grandmothers, with each stitch embodying not just aesthetic beauty but also spiritual significance. The embroidered designs, such as tiger paw prints, dragons, birds, butterflies, and flowers, reflect the Dao people's hopes for health, triumph over natural challenges, and a prosperous and happy life.
To ensure that this traditional embroidery craft is not lost, Village 2 has established an Embroidery Team. The team, which includes a leader and deputy, encourages collaboration and mutual support among members to create the most beautiful embroidered products. Mr. Ban Van Truc, the head of Village 2, said that 80% of the village's households belong to the White Dao ethnic group. In addition to preserving other unique cultural practices such as traditional dances, “Pao Dung” singing, and their language and writing, the Embroidery Team recently spent a week teaching embroidery to anyone interested in learning the craft. This initiative aims to strengthen the community, with hopes that the team's products will eventually be sold on the market, generating income for its members and further developing the embroidery trade in the village.
Embroidery products are getting finished
Mrs. Đang Thi Say, 74 years old, and the leader of the Embroidery Team in Village 2, fondly recalls how, in her youth, she learned embroidery from her mother and through self-teaching with her peers. Every girl prepared her most beautiful outfit for her marriage. She has passed on the craft to her three daughters and two daughters-in-law, though, due to busy lives, they now have less time for embroidery. Mrs. Say is happy by the formation of the Embroidery Team, and despite her age, she remains eager to teach young people the art of embroidery to ensure that the rich cultural heritage of her people is preserved and passed on to future generations.
Looking at the products created by the Embroidery Team in Village 2, one can truly appreciate the meticulousness and skill of the embroiderers. The clothing -such as dresses, headscarves, and waistbands - is not simply worn as attire; it is a symbol of cultural beauty, rich in heritage, and carries the unique mark of the Dao people. These works are not just decorative but also deeply meaningful, representing the distinct identity of the ethnic group and their place in the diverse community of local peoples.
Through the hard work and dedication of the people in Village 2, the traditional craft of embroidery continues to thrive, not only preserving a beautiful art form but also strengthening the cultural identity of the Dao people in Lang Quan Commune.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
