Che Cu Nha brocade: Indigo dyes, beeswax and intricate stitching

Ly Thi Ninh demonstrates the technique of embroidery from inside the fabric

Unique embroidery technique

According to Tran Tuyet Lan, General Director of Craft Link Social Enterprise Joint Stock Company who has worked closely in preserving and developing traditional brocade products of ethnic minorities for many years, most H'Mong Hoa women in the commune still wear traditional costumes. The costumes are made of linen with decorative patterns drawn with beeswax, dyed in indigo and combined with embroidery and fabric grafting.

The beeswax drawing technique of the H'Mong Hoa women consists of dipping a drawing tool into hot beeswax before drawing on white cloth. After being dyed in indigo and boiled, the beeswax melts, leaving white patterns on an indigo-colored background.

The technique of indigo dyeing with different levels of dark and light colors on the same piece of cloth is also a unique technique of the Hoa H'Mong in Che Cu Nha. Each embroidery pattern or beeswax drawing has a special cultural meaning.

Visitors are surprised to see the local women's ability to embroider on the inside of the fabric. Indeed, they can quickly stitch intricate patterns on the inside of the fabric, which form obvious patterns and shapes on the outside. More surprisingly, the women work from memory, without any markings or patterns to follow.

Improved lives

Since 2009, with the support of Craft Link, the brocade products have become a source of income for local women. H'Mong Hoa brocade patterns have appeared on bags, belts, tablecloths and even dresses with modern and unique designs.

Brocade has improved the lives of H'Mong Hoa women in Che Cu Nha

Che Cu Nha's traditional brocade embroidery cooperative started with 25 members and has grown to 45. Some work in the cooperative fulltime, others do it parttime in addition to their farm work. The products are sold domestically and exported. Ly Thi Ninh from Trong Tong Village, a leader of the cooperative group, says that in addition to sales through Craft Link, the women also introduce their products through social networks such as Zalo and Facebook to sell them in Thailand and Laos. With an average monthly income of VND2-3 million per person, mothers in this difficult land have more money to buy books and clothes for their children.

Indeed, seven years after joining the cooperative, Ly Thi Li's life has changed significantly, from being busy year-round with crop cultivation, she now travels to many provinces and cities marketing brocade products; from not having enough income and food, she can now buy new clothes, books for her two children every school year, and take holidays. Similarly, Sung Thi Mu, a mother of four from De Thang village, says, “In the past, life was difficult, but since joining the cooperative group, I feel that my life is better, my income is enough for my children to go to school”.