The Co Lao ethnic group is one of the few ethnic minorities living at the foot of the Tay Con Linh range, in Tung San commune (Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang province) that still preserves the traditional brocade embroidery craft. Through the skillful hands of Co Lao women, they have created products with rich colors and patterns, containing many traditional cultural values. Each flap of the shirt and the hem of the pants are meticulously embroidered with meticulous motifs by the creativity of women, conveying many feelings and beauties in cultural life, considered the "soul" contributing to creating the unique identity of the Co Lao people.
In previous years, the brocade embroidery craft of the Co Lao people was maintained to serve the needs of households. Each outfit was meticulously hand-embroidered by Co Lao women with many details, so each year they could only complete 1-2 new sets of clothes for family members to wear on important holidays and Tet.
Members of the Co Lao Costume Embroidery group complete the pattern on the costume.
Arriving at Ta Chai village 4, Tung San commune, we met Ms. Giang Thi Dua, Head of the Co Lao Costume Embroidery Group. Ms. Dua said: “The group was established in 2020 by women in the village who love brocade embroidery. Although all the members are young, they always diligently learn from their grandmothers, mothers and sisters to perfect the patterns that contribute to making the traditional costumes more unique. Up to now, in addition to sewing and embroidering costumes for themselves and their families, the group also accepts jobs for neighboring people. Although the income from traditional costume embroidery is small, the group always cherishes the hope that one day in the near future, they will have their own traditional costume sewing and embroidery shop.”
When it comes to the brocade embroidery of the Co Lao people, we must mention the technique of embroidering colored thread patterns, wavy patterns and unique stitching techniques. The traditional costume of Co Lao women includes a head scarf, shirt and pants. The head scarf, collar and sleeves are embroidered with square patterns, diamond patterns, small triangles or colored wool tassels, adding to the brilliant beauty. Each pattern has a meaning, representing objects and phenomena related to the daily life and production of the Co Lao people.
Comrade Dam Duc Phuong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tung San commune, informed: “The costumes of the Co Lao ethnic group have been well preserved and conserved by the people. In particular, during the holidays and New Year of the ethnic group, costumes are indispensable. With the desire to preserve the unique cultural features of ethnic groups through the development of embroidery, brocade sewing and traditional costume making, the Party Committee and the commune government have stepped up propaganda and encouraged the people in the commune, including the Co Lao ethnic group, in addition to preserving the embroidery and traditional costume making profession, to pay attention to investing in improving techniques, promoting production, bringing costumes to the market, and trading in association with promoting the beauty and uniqueness of traditional costumes”.
To preserve and develop the traditional embroidery and brocade making craft of Co Lao ethnic group, in the coming time, local authorities need to have appropriate policies and incentives, so that there will be more and more people who love the craft and are passionate about ethnic culture like Ms. Dua and the members of the Co Lao Brocade Embroidery Group. This not only contributes to preserving and maintaining the ethnic cultural identity but also contributes a bright color to the thousands of years of cultural flow of the nation and the country, making the traditional handicraft industry the main industry to increase income for the Co Lao ethnic minority in the highlands of Tung San.
Nguyen Yem/Ha Giang Newspaper
Source: https://baophutho.vn/luu-giu-nghe-theu-tho-cam-cua-dan-toc-co-lao-223630.htm
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