Diligently keep the old profession

(Baonghean) - Thai Hoa hamlet (Nghi Thai commune, Nghi Loc district) has a long-standing traditional weaving profession and is famous for its beautiful and durable products. Through many ups and downs, this profession is still preserved by the villagers as a way to preserve the remaining values ​​of their ancestors.

Coming to Thai Hoa hamlet on an afternoon in late October, following the guidance of the villagers, we came to the house of Mr. Doan Huu Binh, who has been involved in the weaving profession for nearly 60 years. In the middle of the small yard, he and his wife were busy with their work. Some were splitting bamboo, others were weaving, when he saw the guests coming, he stopped to welcome them.

Thai Hoa hamlet people with traditional weaving profession.

According to Mr. Binh, no one knows when the weaving craft village in Thai Hoa started, only that it has been passed down through many generations. Mr. Binh started weaving when he was 7 years old. In his memory, about 20 years ago, when plastic, aluminum, and stainless steel utensils and tools were not abundant, the weaving craft in Thai Hoa hamlet was very developed. Everyone, every household followed this craft. Every noon, everyone gathered at the village entrance to weave and chat happily, occasionally organizing weaving competitions, singing competitions while weaving...

The woven products of Thai Hoa village are not only diverse in design but also famous for their durability and beauty. The main products are baskets, trays, winnowing trays, winnowing trays, mats, and pots... serving daily life and agricultural production. During harvest season, the products are not enough to sell. Customers from all over come to order products such as: baskets, buckets for draining water, pots, mats for storing rice, winnowing trays, sieves... The combination of agricultural production with handicraft weaving and the exchange of goods has contributed to creating stability and peace in the daily life of the people here.

The raw materials for making woven products are mainly bamboo, reed, bamboo and rattan. In Thai Hoa, bamboo and rattan are not abundant so they are often imported from the mountainous district of Quy Chau. They are then dried and split into small pieces, shaved evenly before weaving.

Depending on the product, the weaving technique is also completely different. For raw products that do not require high dexterity and meticulousness, a family of two can weave 17-20 products per day. The price of a product is only from 17,000-20,000 VND. As for products that require high durability and aesthetics, it requires meticulousness and a special secret. Once finished, the woven products are put into the oven to be smoked until they turn a uniform yellow color. The main material for smoking is damp, rotten straw.

Mr. Binh added that this is the secret of Thai Hoa people to help products such as baskets and trays have beautiful and durable colors, other places have to use varnish to brush on. For products that require fine art, each family can only make 2-3 products per day depending on the skill level of each person. The price of each of these products ranges from 150,000 - 300,000 VND/piece.

Wicker products from Thai Hoa hamlet (Nghi Thai commune, Nghi Loc district) are sold in all markets inside and outside the province.

The woven products of Thai Hoa village are often purchased by traders from all over the country, and are available in markets throughout the province and outside such as Vinh market, Ga market, Son market, Do Luong market, etc. Although it is only a side job during the off-season, the job also brings in a steady income for households in Thai Hoa, averaging 3 - 4 million VND per month.

Nowadays, handmade bamboo woven products are no longer as popular as before, instead, convenient products are made of plastic, corrugated iron, stainless steel, etc. Thai Hoa weaving craft is facing the risk of extinction with nearly 10 households, mainly men and women over 60 years old. However, with enthusiasm and passion for the craft, every day the people here still diligently and tirelessly weave to "breathe life" into each product and "keep the fire" for the traditional craft of their ancestors.

Wang Yun