Brocade with Embroidered Border

(Baonghean)At night, the whole family of Mrs. Quang Thi Nguyet in Diem Bay village, Chau Quang commune (Quy Hop district) is still engrossed in weaving brocade, some at the loom, others spinning yarn... Occasionally, Mrs. Nguyet sighs: "In the past, the whole village was bustling with people making brocade, but now it's fading away, and I feel so sad..."

In the past, during the mulberry season in Diem Bay, the vast mulberry fields were lush and green, with every household cultivating mulberry trees, raising silkworms, and harvesting cocoons. When the silkworms spun their silk, people would come to watch, chatting and laughing, making plans to go to Dong Nai market in Chau Quang commune to sell their brocade. The main products made by the villagers were scarves, clothes, and blanket covers. The village was always vibrant with the colors of brocade, both inside and outside the houses, especially in the summer. Seeing the villagers' passion for the craft, Chau Quang commune developed Diem Bay into a model for mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and brocade weaving, converting some of their land from other crops to mulberry cultivation and purchasing some silk reeling machines. The villagers were very enthusiastic. However, after a while, the effort put in was too great, the work too arduous and meticulous, yet the economic return was low. With no market for the brocade, the craft gradually faded away. As she recounted her story, Mế Nguyệt gazed towards the high hills before her: "Since the villagers stopped growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms, the road leading to that mountain range has become increasingly deserted. In the old days, the villagers would diligently tend to their mulberry fields from morning till night..."

Sam Thi Le continues the family tradition of weaving brocade.

Before 2009, the entire village of Diem Bay was filled with the creaking sound of looms day and night. Whenever the villagers had free time, they would start weaving brocade. Every house had a loom. Regardless of age or gender, everyone loved the craft. The Thai people in Diem Bay are very meticulous in each of their products. So when she saw the brocade weaving craft gradually fading away, Mrs. Nguyet was very sad. Her husband, Mr. Sam Quoc Van, knew his wife loved weaving since she was a young girl, so he encouraged her. Night after night, they would sit together winding yarn and weaving brocade. When the villagers planted rice and corn during the mulberry season, they would plant mulberry trees. Then, all four of Mrs. Nguyet's sons and daughters also joined in during their free time. Mrs. Nguyet was considered a skilled weaver, with dexterous hands and a deep love for the craft. She was always concerned about finding ways to preserve and develop the craft in Diem Bay. She also taught Thai girls in the village how to combine colors and how to dye them beautifully.

"How many people in the village still weave brocade now, Grandma?" I asked. "Not many, only about a dozen households. Like me, they make it for their own families, sell it to whoever wants it, or go to the market two or three times a month. In Chau Quang, there's the Dong Nai market, which has two sessions a week. It's right next to Highway 48, and many people visit – customers from Thung May town, from Que Phong, and from around the area. Some days the market is busy, and we sell nearly a million dong worth of goods, mostly blanket covers. Occasionally, customers from the lowlands pass by and stop to buy blanket covers and pillowcases. I'm very happy to see that there are still people who appreciate Diem Bay brocade products!"

Ms. Nguyet added: "From ancient times, the women of Diem Bay have always valued their brocade weaving skills, and it's a traditional beauty of the women here. Every family with a daughter must know how to weave brocade, weaving her own everyday clothes and especially before getting married, she must have beautiful dresses, blouses, scarves, and even blankets and pillowcases made by her own hands. Therefore, I don't want to lose this traditional beauty!" Then, she led me into the room to show me the scarves, blankets, dresses, and blouses… The night was still dark, and I woke up to the creaking sound of the loom…

Even now, though the traditional brocade weaving craft of Diem Bay is gradually fading away, Mrs. Nguyet still believes and dreams that one day, the craft will be restored, and Diem Bay will once again resound with the sound of looms!

Thu Huong