Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, as many traditional crafts are gradually fading away, Cham women in My Nghiep brocade weaving village (Ninh Phuoc district) still diligently work at their looms day after day. Not only do they weave vibrantly colored brocades, but they also tirelessly pass down the craft to the younger generation, preserving a cultural heritage deeply connected to the community across generations.
At over 80 years old, Mrs. Ba Thi Moi is the oldest person still dedicated to the loom at the My Nghiep Cooperative. Her hands, marked by the passage of time, still swiftly guide each thread, creating traditional patterns. Mrs. Moi shared that she does not remember when the village's weaving craft began, only knowing that since childhood, she saw her grandmother and mother sitting at the loom. When her turn came, she continued to learn the craft and passed it on to her children and grandchildren. Thus, the weaving craft has been directly passed down through generations of Cham people.
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| Cham women in My Nghiep village tirelessly weave brocade fabrics. |
During the teaching process, the elders directly guide the youth through each stage, from threading and setting up the loom to creating patterns. To complete a product, whether on a large or small loom, weavers must strictly follow the process preserved over generations. It is this meticulousness and patience that create the unique value of My Nghiep brocade.
In My Nghiep village, many brocade products with ancient patterns are still woven entirely by hand. Weavers use two types of looms, large and small, depending on the complexity of each pattern. For intricate traditional patterns, only highly experienced artisans can execute them on long looms.
Mrs. Dang Thi Nam (a member of the My Nghiep Cooperative) said that each pattern contains the cultural and historical values of the Cham people, so preserving ancient motifs is always a top priority. According to her, besides preserving the original traditional patterns, craftspeople also constantly innovate to make products more suitable for modern life while still maintaining their unique identity. "I hope future generations will still see and be proud of our ethnic brocade patterns. Weaving always plays an important role in the cultural life of the Cham people, so it needs to be preserved and protected for future generations," Mrs. Nam shared.
Through many ups and downs of time, the brocade weaving craft is still preserved by the people of My Nghiep as an indispensable part of their cultural life. Today, in addition to serving the traditional rituals of the Cham people, brocade products have also become souvenirs for visitors, contributing to job creation and raising incomes for local people.
Amidst modern life, the image of Cham women quietly working at their looms remains a testament to the enduring vitality of a traditional craft. From the skillful hands of the artisans, the brocade fabrics not only preserve the cultural beauty of the ethnic group but also tell the story of inheritance, responsibility, and pride of many generations of Cham people in My Nghiep brocade weaving village.
S.C
