![]() I have to understand what they like, what they need, and what is the most reasonable price to entice them. “The next issue is finding the market, or more precisely, understanding the needs of customers within and outside my community. I had to research and find the lowest possible price to reduce costs, the issue that most local weavers are concerned with," she said. The Hrê used to use cotton fibres, and now they have replaced them with synthetic fibres. ![]() ![]() “I had to re-explore everything about the craft, starting from the source of materials. Photo courtesy of Phạm Thị Y HòaĪt first, Hòa encountered many difficulties in the preservation of her ethnic group's identity and cultural heritage. Nevertheless, the dominant three colours are still preserved, and the weaving techniques remain unchanged,” she added.ĮTHNIC ELEGANCE: Hòa is pictured in 'áo dài' (Vietnamese traditional long dress) crafted from Hrê fabric. This is due to customers’ preferences and the influence of modern trends. “However, Hrê fabric has incorporated a variety of colours these days. “I aimed to raise awareness about Hrê handloom fabric, and preserve the weaving craft as an indispensable cultural aspect of our lives and also as a source of income both for me and my community,” she said.Īccording to Hòa, the handloom fabrics of different ethnic groups often share vibrant and eye-catching colours, but the unique characteristic of Hrê fabric is undoubtedly the traditional colour palette, which consists of three main colours: white, red and black. She decided to return to her hometown in 2018, after studying away from home, to focus on commercialising Hrê traditional fabrics. Growing up, Hòa realised that the ancient weaving craft of her ethnic group, despite its unique beauty, was not widely known and losing interest from consumers, particularly the young people, due to its low price. As a 9th grader, she earned pocket money from creating her first complete products and selling them to residents in Ba Tơ District where she lived. Hòa has been able to weave since the age of 14. She can only weave around 20cm of fabric a day, so it took nearly two months to complete.ĪLL SMILES: Hòa was taught to weave brocade at a young age. She said the designers requested that typical Hrê patterns account for half of the fabric used for their designs at the fair, which demanded extreme care. I did my best so that my artisanal fabrics – the heritage of the Hrê people – would be present at the expo." “It was my first opportunity to receive an order from renowned fashion designers and to showcase my works at such a big international event. “After receiving orders to create the handloom fabric for the designers, I was overjoyed and determined to carry out the task,” Hòa told Việt Nam News. MODERN TWIST: A creation by designer Lý Quý Khánh manually woven by Hòa. Five creations by renowned fashion designers Lý Quý Khánh and Chula were meticulously woven by Hòa’s talented hands, impressing many fashionistas attending. Hrê brocade appeared in an impressive fashion show within the international exhibition. At the EXPO 2020 in Dubai, UAE, two of their handloom fabric products were showcased in the VIP area, together with 13 representative products of 10 other ethnic minorities from Việt Nam. Hòa's and other Teng villagers' efforts to promote their ancient craft have paid off, even going beyond borders. It is also a way for me to improve my work and meet the market demand," she said. "When I create a new product, I usually share it on my personal page to receive feedback and suggestions from friends and customers. The 31-year-old's social media feeds are constantly updated with photos of the Teng handloom weaving craft, which has been recognised as a national intangible heritage since 2019.īesides traditional products like clothing, scarves or shawls, Hòa has also woven contemporary goods like handbags, ties, áo dài (traditional Vietnamese long dress) and wedding dresses, helping more customers learn about the Hrê's unique craft and inspiring locals to take part in preserving their ancient heritage. Like many Hrê ethnic youths in Teng Village in the central province of Quảng Ngãi, Phạm Thị Y Hòa is overwhelmed with pride when she wears the distinctive traditional brocade costume of her ethnic group. WONDER WEAVER: Phạm Thị Y Hòa is pictured in a Hrê traditional dress.
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