Veteran artisans are passing on their traditional craft of brocade toyounger generations to save it from decline in village programmesorganised by districts in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak.
Artisans from ethnic groups like the E-de, M'nong and Gia Rai are organised into groups in each district and town.
Participating towns include Buon Ma Thuot City, Buon Don, Buon Ho, EaSup, Chu M'ga, Krong Buk, Ea H'leo, Lac and Krong Ana, among others.
In the Buon Ma Thuot's wards of Ea Kao, Ea Tu and Ea Tam,newly-introduced brocade co-operatives have attracted dozens of localswho make items for commercial purposes.
In Ea TuWard, up to 70 percent of the local population is making brocades on aregular basis, with each household typically having two looms and threefemale weavers.
Apart from the usual householditems, other decorative items are made for sale, including bags,tablecloths, bedcloths and curtains.
The brocadeitems are traded within the community and sold to tourists, hotels andrestaurants. They are also bought in the markets of Lam Dong, Khanh Hoaand even HCM City .
The districts and townshave held brocade-making contests to promote the craft in local villagesand encourage youth to learn it.
Also, six-monthbrocade courses are being held by a provincial junior college ofvocational training for ethnic youth in the outlying villages of BuonDon, Ea H'leo and Lac districts.
Graduates from the classes are given loans of 4 million VND (200 USD) to buy equipment so they can increase their income.
The production of brocade cloth, which has characteristicpatterns, is part of the culture of ethnic groups in the CentralHighlands. The craft has been shunned by many youth, who have turned tooccupations that have a higher income./.
Artisans from ethnic groups like the E-de, M'nong and Gia Rai are organised into groups in each district and town.
Participating towns include Buon Ma Thuot City, Buon Don, Buon Ho, EaSup, Chu M'ga, Krong Buk, Ea H'leo, Lac and Krong Ana, among others.
In the Buon Ma Thuot's wards of Ea Kao, Ea Tu and Ea Tam,newly-introduced brocade co-operatives have attracted dozens of localswho make items for commercial purposes.
In Ea TuWard, up to 70 percent of the local population is making brocades on aregular basis, with each household typically having two looms and threefemale weavers.
Apart from the usual householditems, other decorative items are made for sale, including bags,tablecloths, bedcloths and curtains.
The brocadeitems are traded within the community and sold to tourists, hotels andrestaurants. They are also bought in the markets of Lam Dong, Khanh Hoaand even HCM City .
The districts and townshave held brocade-making contests to promote the craft in local villagesand encourage youth to learn it.
Also, six-monthbrocade courses are being held by a provincial junior college ofvocational training for ethnic youth in the outlying villages of BuonDon, Ea H'leo and Lac districts.
Graduates from the classes are given loans of 4 million VND (200 USD) to buy equipment so they can increase their income.
The production of brocade cloth, which has characteristicpatterns, is part of the culture of ethnic groups in the CentralHighlands. The craft has been shunned by many youth, who have turned tooccupations that have a higher income./.
