The secret to dyeing brocade fabrics of the Thai ethnic group.
•August 31, 2016 21:02
(Baonghean.vn) - Using plants, flowers, and leaves to dye brocade is a secret of the Thai people of Quy Chau that few people know about anymore. And it is this secret that has shaped the unique colors of the brocade of this land.
To create natural, vibrant, and long-lasting colors for each brocade product, Thai women in Quy Chau have to gather coffee leaves, ink grass, red phlox bark, cypress roots, turmeric, lime leaves, hom leaves, smooth leaves, banyan leaves, peanuts, jackfruit wood, etc., to use as dyes.
After washing, the leaves and roots are chopped and put into a pot to boil for about 10 minutes, just enough time for the leaves and roots to release their color.
Depending on the pattern, people use different mixing methods and ratios to produce colors such as purplish red, moss green, orange-yellow, lime green, and green, etc.
Colors can be applied to various fabrics such as cotton and silk to create the color of a complete piece of fabric, but primarily they are used to color the yarn.
All the dyes are made from natural ingredients found in the forest, such as orange-yellow extracted from the roots of the *Xetococcus* tree, lime-green from the leaves of the *Lysimachia* tree, brown from coffee leaves, and red from lac resin... Other colors must be mixed together. This is the secret of each "artisan" to achieve the desired natural color.
After drying to allow the dye to set, the next step is spinning the yarn. Because it is dyed with natural colors, the yarn after spinning has vibrant colors that do not fade, and more importantly, it is harmless to health and environmentally friendly.
After creating individual designs for each product, such as dresses and scarves, comes the weaving stage. This step requires meticulous attention to detail from the weaver.
Thanks to this skillful craftsmanship, through each piece of brocade fabric, we can immediately feel the richness of everyday colors, prominently featuring the green of trees, the vibrant yellow of sunlight, the white, pink, and red of wildflowers in the deep forest, on the fields, and along the stream banks...
Because they are dyed with natural colors from plants and flowers, the brocade products of the Thai people in Quy Chau possess a unique beauty and value. Above all, it is through these products that one can easily recognize the love and passion for the craft, a beautiful aspect of the Thai women's souls in Quy Chau. (Photo: Nguyen Sach)
That's also why Thai women's traditional clothing is unique and can be seen anywhere. Photo: Nguyen Sach
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