Artisans from the Lu ethnic minority group impressed festival-goers with the performance of the people’s traditional costumes.
The Lu people primarily live in Tam Duong and Sin Ho districts of Lai Châu province. They have many traditional cultural features, with their traditional costumes being particularly outstanding. The costumes with exquisite patterns are considered the soul of the Lu people. From a young age, Lu children are taught how to sew clothes by their mothers and grandmothers. When they reach the age of 14, they are expected to sew their own clothing.
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Artisans of the Lu ethnic minority people demonstrate their costumes at the festival. |
According to Mrs. Lo Thi Binh, a fourth-generation artisan in a family having the tradition of making Lu costumes, the costumes of the Lu people are incredibly unique and sophisticatedly made. Women's attire consists of a blouse, a skirt, a hat, a scarf, a belt, and various decorative jewels. On important holidays or weddings, Lu girls add a strip of white or gold-colored metal to their headscarves and adorn them with flowers picked on mountains and in forests to enhance the splendid beauty of the costume.
Tao Thi Thuy from Ban Giang commune of Tam Duong district said that the costumes are indispensable items in festivals, especially in traditional celebrations of the Lu people. In spite of greatly appreciating the traditional attire, Lu young people find it difficult to keep the craft since making traditional costumes requires much time, perseverance, meticulousness, and skillfulness.
Cotton grown by the Lu ethnic minority people is fully mature and ready for harvesting approximately two or three months after being planted. After being harvested, the cotton fiber is sorted out and dried in the sun before being spun into thread, woven into fabrics, and dyed with indigo water. Making an attire of the Lu ethnic minority people takes a lot of time and efforts. Normally, it takes a year to complete a set of clothes.
Apart from clothes, the Lu women’s handmade bags decorated with colorful and sophisticated patterns also attract visitors’ attention.
According to Deputy Director of the Cultural and Art Center of Lai Chau province Vu Thi Phuong Thao, the costumes of ethnic communities in Lai Chau are diverse, but the attire of the Lu people evokes a deeper sense of fascination. With their skillful hands, the Lu women make beautiful costumes from entirely natural materials. More importantly, young people still highly appreciate traditional values. They always cherish and regularly wear traditional attire in their daily life and on festive occasions.
Translated by Tran Hoai