An embroidery class in Tay Mo village, Hanoi. (Photo: baomoi.com) This class is special in that the teachers have been skilledartisans who mastered embroidery in the French colonial period.
Do Thanh Huong, founder of the embroidery class, said that Tay Mo Villagehas female artisans who have been embroidering since the resistance war againstthe French colonialists.
Huong said: “Our wish is to gather and exchange embroidery,moreover, we hope the embroidery profession of Tay Mo Village will be restoredand developed."
Nghiem Thi Binh, one of the teachers said: "I’m over 60 yearsold. The class brings back the memory of decades ago, when my parents taught meembroidery before I was married.”
Binh said when she was 17, she joined the embroidery group withother unmarried girls.
“There are nights we gathered to do embroidery all night,” shesaid.
"Now, I’m very happy to teach young people in the class.Every day I look forward to coming to class.”
“Young women in the class acquire skills very quickly. It’s onlythe second day, but their embroidery lines are very soft and sharp.”
Tran Bao An, 17, said that she is very happy and excited.
"I really want to learn embroidery, it's not very difficultfor me. This is the village's traditional handicraft and I want to follow inthe footsteps of artisans.
Tran Van Long said when he was a child, it wasn't hard to findwomen holding embroidery frames in one hand and a bundle of colourful threadsin the other.
All the products from the classes are completely made by hand.
"The machine can be fast, but surely can't be soulful”, saidNghiem Thi Binh.
Also according to Binh, hand-embroidered products are moredurable, sophisticated, and also more expensive.
Not wanting the embroidery profession to be lost was the goal ofwomen when they came to embroidery class.
In the summer, many students also took advantage of their extratime to go to embroidery classes, to spread their passion for the traditionalcraft of their ancestors.
Tran Thi Khanh Van, head of the Tay Mo Village embroidery group,said: "The village has many famous and beautiful places such as Am templeand the ancient communal house.
“The image of women next to an embroidery frame, inside theancient communal house, is very impressive and attracts visitors, especially ifthe local authorities organise in conjunction with craft village tours.”
Those who once spent their childhood embroidering want the localauthorities to preserve the traditional craft village.
Moreover, they hope Tay Mo Village will be an attractivedestination for visitors who not only buy manual embroidery products butdirectly witness the talented hands of artisans creating beautiful products./.
VNA
