Hanoi (VNA) - In stark contrast to its quiet past, Nam Cao linen weaving village (now Thong Nhat commune, Kien Xuong district, the northeastern coastal province of Thai Binh) is bustling. The weaving machines are humming again, with skilled artisans spinning golden threads, and tourists experiencing the 400-year-old traditional craft. This weaving revival was led by a decade of determined efforts to restore a craft once on the brink of extinction.
In its prime, the village’s high-quality products were sought after in both domestic and international markets, with millions of metres of fabric exported annually. However, from the 1990s to around 2010, industrial fabrics and ready-made clothing pushed Nam Cao into a decline. Many local artisans left the trade for better-paying jobs, leaving only a few households to preserve the craft.
The turning point came when Luong Thanh Hanh, an entrepreneur born in 1985, decided to leave her high-income interior design job in a major city to start anew in Nam Cao. Despite not being a native, her passion for rustic handcrafted goods inspired her to establish “Hanh Silk” brand. She launched projects aimed at restoring the local linen weaving by creating a value chain that spans raw materials, production, distribution, and export.
The businesswoman said that Vietnamese silk and linen products are highly favoured on international markets. Thus, in collaboration with the village’s artisans, she aspires to revive and help the Nam Cao linen weaving brand secure its place on the global stage. Her vision is that when people think of silk and linen, they will refer to Vietnam in general and Thai Binh in particular.
Her efforts have paid off. The Nam Cao linen weaving cooperative now groups nearly 300 members producing 500 types of products. These are exported to 20 countries, including the US, UK, Italy, Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, and nations in the Middle East, generating over 10 billion VND (392,850 USD) on an annual basis. This year, for the first time, Nam Cao linen will feature on the prestigious Milan Fashion Week stage, showcasing Vietnam’s craftsmanship to the world.
For local artisans like Hoang Thu Huong, who have witnessed the highs and lows of the village, the establishment of the cooperative has brought renewed energy to the community. Huong and her peers are especially delighted, as they can preserve the traditional craft handed down by their ancestors while earning an average monthly income of between 5-8 million VND per person.
The Nam Cao Silk Weaving Cooperative emphasises eco-friendly practices, using natural dyes from plants, fruits, and roots to minimise environmental impacts. Its efforts have turned the village into a thriving hub for tourism.
Luong Thanh Hanh, director of the cooperative, shared that to preserve and develop the craft, it is committed to sustainable, eco-friendly practices, using natural dyeing techniques derived from plants, fruits, and roots. This year, the village welcomed nearly 30,000 domestic and foreign visitors, an unprecedented figure in its 400-year history.
Students like Nguyen Linh Chi, a sixth grader from The Dewey Schools in Hanoi, described their visit to the village at weekend as special and exciting. She and her friends were guided by cooperative members to engage in hands-on activities such as spinning, weaving, and dyeing fabric. The highlight for many was creating personalised scarves, which made meaningful souvenirs for their relatives after the trip.
In 2023, Nam Cao linen weaving was recognised as national intangible cultural heritage. To further its preservation, the local authorities have allocated 4.5 hectares for the village’s development. Once completed, the area is expected to attract three to five times more visitors, ensuring sustainable growth for the craft./.
