Recently, the province organized a class to teach brocade weaving techniques, thereby preserving the traditional brocade weaving of Cham ethnic people in Chau Phong commune (Tan Chau town). This activity also aimed to promote cultural and tourism development in the Mekong Delta. Right after the class was open, there were 63 students joining the class. Artisan instructed them on brocade weaving skills including spinning yarn, framing, creating patterns and weaving fabric.

leftcenterrightdel
A family of the Cham ethnic minority group in Chau Phong commune, Tan Chau town, An Giang maintains the traditional brocade weaving profession.

For the Cham ethnic people in An Giang province, brocade weaving is a long-standing traditional profession, playing an important role in preserving the unique cultural beauty. Cham people’s brocade products are dyed with natural colors. The dyed colors are made from trees’ sap and bark, and fruits. The colors, patterns, and weaving techniques created the unique culture feature of the Cham ethnic minority people. 

According to Artisan Mohamad in Chau Phong commune, in the past, each household owned at least a weaving frame in their house. All women in the Cham community knew weaving skills. Girls at 10 aged were taught the basic skills of weaving by adults. When they were grown up, they became professional weavers of the village.

This activity also offered a chance for artisan and trainees to exchange and share experience in preserving and upholding unique cultural value of the traditional brocade weaving, thereby giving scientific solutions for the preservation of traditional culture. With unique cultural features, brocade weaving profession of the Cham people in Chau Phong commune was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage element.

Translated by Quynh Oanh