(VOVWORLD) - The Xa Phang are one of the ethnic minority groups living in Tua Chua district, Dien Bien province. Ta Phang people uphold their traditions and customs in their daily lives. The women still make clothes for their family by hand.
 Lo Seo Phan of Then Pa hamlet sells clothes of Xa Phang ethnic group. (Photo: baodienbienphu.com.vn) |
After finishing the day’s farm work, Oang Vu Xuyen and the other women of Ta Xin Thang hamlet gather to make clothes and accessories. Xa Phang people prefer bright colors, so they make their clothes eye-catching.
“I’m sewing a woman’s shirt. It will take me about 10 days to embroider pink, blue, and white flowers on it. A man’s shirt has two colors, black and white,” said Xuyen.
The woman's shirt is tailoredwith a round neck and fitted waist. Small silver beads are attached to give the outfit a noble look.
“Girls between 15 and 30 years old wear colorful shirts. Older people wear a single color, usually black. The more colors it has, the better young people like it. Clothes also distinguish between married and unmarried girls,” Oang Lung Xenh of Ta Xin Thang hamlet said.
The traditional costume of Xa Phang men includes a black shirt and pants. But the man's shirt may have a multi-colored row of buttons.
A pair of beautifully embroidered shoes is part of the traditional Xa Phang costume. They distinguish the Xa Phang from other ethnic groups. In 2021, the profession of making Xa Phang embroidered shoes was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
“The embroidered patterns on our shoes have been passed down from our ancestors. Now young people creatively embroider new patterns and decorate the shoes with elaborately cut fabric flowers,” villager Oanh Lu Sen said.
To make the soles, they glue many layers of bamboo shoots with glue made from a kind of wild jam. The thick soles are cut to fit the shape of the feet and wrapped in cloth. The durability of the shoes depends on how firmly the soles are sewn. The thick thread is made from the bark of an indigenous tree and has been carefully treated. To create friction and durability for the outsoles, the women often sew thick threads underneath.
The insoles are usually made of velvet with a printed floral pattern.
“Children start wearing shoes at the age of 3. Baby girls at 1-year-old wear cloth shoes tied to their feet. Men's shoes have several types of flower patterns. Shoes for middle-aged people have simple flowers. By looking at their shoes, we can tell whether a person is married or not,” villager Oanh Lu Sen said.
The craft of hand-made shoes and shirts that has been handed down within Xa Phang families and communities reflects the diligence, patience, and perseverance of the Xa Phang people.