Start-up idea “Handmade products from the embroidery art of the Dao ethnic group” contributes to preserving traditional culture

Over the past time, the traditional embroidery club of Dinh Lap Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities Boarding School, Dinh Lap district, has continuously introduced and promoted the embroidery art of the Dao ethnic culture through designing costumes and accessories following modern, highly applicable trends. Thereby, the school contributed  to spreading and preserving the national cultural identity of the Lang Son ethnic people in general and the Dao ethnic group in Dinh Lap district in particular.

With the continuous development of society, for a period of time, the embroidery art of the Dao Thanh Y and Dao Thanh Phan people in Dinh Lap district was at risk of being lost. However, coming to Dinh Lap Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities Boarding School, it is not difficult to see images of teachers and students diligently preserving the traditional craft through each needle and thread during embroidery class. With the desire to not only create traditional costumes but also spread the culture, expressing the lifestyle, thinking, and beliefs of the Dao ethnic group,in September 2023, the school’s traditional embroidery club was established, with more than 60 members. Also from here, the idea of starting a business “Handmade products from the embroidery cultural art of the Dao ethnic group” came from students: Dang Thi Ngoc Anh, Dang Thi Mai, Dang Thi Thanh, Trieu Thi Phuong, Trieu Thi Nay, 11th grade students, Dinh Lap Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities Boarding School were researched and implemented.

Students participate in embroidery under the guidance of Dao ethnic parents

Dang Thi Ngoc Anh, project team leader, shared: I am of the Kinh ethnic group, but since I was a child I have had a special love for traditional culture, especially the embroidery of the Dao ethnic people. To preserve and promote traditional values, me and my friends started working on the project together. The main form of project implementation is hand embroidery and hand crocheting of patterns in Dao ethnic costumes to create products such as clothes, shoes, hats, ao dai, scarves…The patterns are also clearly divided, patterns for everyday wear and patterns for priest’s outfits, or bridal outfits…

Mrs. La Thanh Loan, teacher guiding the project group shared: Recognizing the importance of transmitting national cultural identity, from the embroidery art of the Dao ethnic group, now, students know how to design ao dai outfits and accessories with colorful motifs and patterns. Instead of spending time on their phones watching movies or playing games, they can knit, crochet, and embroider. This not only helps train skillful hands and creative thinking when making products, but also contributes to preserving the craft, preventing the embroidery of the Dao ethnic group from being lost.

Some handicraft products from the embroidery art of the Dao ethnic group

After having the finished product, teachers in the school ordered the product for use. In addition, the group of students also actively promoted products on platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, Tiktok, Shopee… Thanks to that, up to now, the children have had over 10 orders for products such as: ao dai, belts, shoes,… because of its uniqueness, usefulness and reasonable price, product prices range from 150,000 VND/piece to 1 million VND/piece.

Mrs. Ly Phuong Hoa, Loc Binh town, Loc Binh district shared: Currently, there are fewer and fewer traditional hand-embroidered products, especially products from young people. So when I saw a group of young people promoting hand-embroidered products on the social network Facebook, I ordered a velvet ao dai decorated with elaborate and meticulous Dao ethnic motifs. The “unique” and “strange” features of the product are both youthful and innovative but still imbued with traditional culture in every needle and thread. I am very impressed and am ordering another Ao Dai to give to family members.

It can be seen that, wherever they are, the cultural beauty of Dao people’s costumes has been preserved and promoted from generation to generation. With those efforts and efforts, recently, the start-up idea “Handmade products from the embroidery art of the Dao ethnic group” of students from Dinh Lap Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities Boarding School excellently won third prize at the 2023 provincial competition for students with startup ideas.

For very long time, embroidery has been closely associated with the lives of the Dao ethnic people, especially women. This is considered the “soul core” that contributes to the unique identity of the Dao people, expressing the way of life, thinking, and beliefs of the people. However, in recent years, the traditional embroidery craft of the Dao ethnic people in the district is gradually being eroded and lost.  Therefore, the embroidery club of students at Dinh Lap Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities Boarding School, Dinh Lap district, has contributed to preserving and preserving the national cultural identity, and at the same time contributing to the good implementation of Resolution No. 66, dated March 15, 2023 of the District Party Committee Standing Committee on preserving, embellishing and promoting the cultural identities of ethnic groups in Dinh Lap district in the period of 2023 – 2025. This is also the first embroidery club established in the district. Mrs. Hoang Thi Kim Hoat, Head of the Division of Culture and Information of Dinh Lap district