Economy

The unique craft of weaving plastic belt curtains in Xuan Lam.

Thanh Phuc • October 22, 2024 12:21

From rough plastic straps, with skillful hands and creative minds, the people of Xuan Lam commune (Hung Nguyen district) have created exquisite curtains that are popular in the market.

bna_1.1.jpg — In the communes of Hung Loi, Hung Thanh, Chau Nhan, Xuan Lam, etc., spacious, modern multi-story houses are decorated with handcrafted plastic blinds and curtains, adding a colorful touch to the rural landscape. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Unlike before, blinds and curtains are no longer woven from bamboo or rattan, but instead are made with plastic straps. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Chị Phạm Thị Hiền (sinh năm 1973), ở xóm 8 xã Xuân Lam được xem là người tiên phong trong việc sử dụng vật liệu tái chế này để đan rèm mành. Ảnh: Thanh Phúc — Ms. Pham Thi Hien, residing in Hamlet 8, Xuan Lam Commune, is considered a pioneer in using this recycled material to weave curtains and blinds. Photo: Thanh Phuc

ghép 3 — Ms. Hien said that in 2018, while visiting a brick factory, she saw plastic straps used to tie bricks scattered around. She picked them up, cleaned them, straightened them, and used them as a substitute for bamboo and reeds in weaving. Afterward, many households in the village also followed the trade, and currently, there are about a dozen households in the commune engaged in weaving blinds and curtains. With increasing customer demand and many people using this material for weaving, Ms. Hien and other households involved in the trade have to buy new plastic straps to ensure quality and a reliable supply of raw materials. (Photo: Thanh Phuc)

Using plastic strapping for weaving ensures a wide variety of colors and high durability, but it is slippery and difficult to knot, requiring carefulness and meticulousness from the weaver. Photo: Thanh Phuc

hoa văn — From their initial rudimentary products, the artisans gradually created more intricate patterns and found ways to combine colors harmoniously. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Woven products made from plastic strapping are quite diverse: shopping baskets, trays, sieves, window screens, door screens, blinds, curtains, etc. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Plastic blinds are durable, retain their color for a long time, and don't rot like bamboo blinds, lasting up to a decade, making them a popular choice among consumers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The product is entirely handcrafted, intricate, and elaborate, therefore, the price is quite high. Currently, the price of curtains ranges from 300,000 to 350,000 VND/meter.²Depending on the pattern requirements, after deducting expenses, weavers earn 100,000 VND per meter.²Photo: Thanh Phuc

nẹp khung — The period from the ninth lunar month to the full moon of the first lunar month sees the highest demand for curtains and blinds due to increased need for home decoration. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only serving the local and provincial markets, but through digital platforms, these craft households have reached customers nationwide. In the photo: People are knitting while livestreaming to introduce their products and find customers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Clip: Thanh Phuc

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“The model of weaving curtains using plastic straps by households in Xuan Lam commune is very practical, providing both high application value and environmental protection by using recycled materials, making the most of leisure time. The products are durable, beautiful, and quite profitable, initially creating jobs and stable income for families. However, to expand the model, careful planning is needed, especially regarding the market for the products.”
Ms. Duong Thi Thuan, President of the Women's Association of Xuan Lam commune, said.

Thanh Phuc