Ba Na ethnic people preserve traditional brocade weaving

Looms of Ba Na ethnic families in Glar commune, which previously seemed to be lost into oblivion, again started operating. Over the past ten years, Ba Na ethnic women have worked together to make patterns on their traditional clothes, scarves and belts.

Ms. Mlop in Glar commune said that she had the idea of restoring brocade weaving 20 years ago. With her devotion, in 2006, Glar commune Agriculture and Brocade Cooperative was established. Products are beautiful and preserve the traditions of Ba Na ethnic group costumes, scarves and belts.

The brocade weaving had a long history. Both her mother and sister knew how to weave. She liked to weave when she was small and she has done it for selling since 1990. When she was a pupil in fourth grade, she knew how to weave fluently.

At first, the Cooperative had only 40 members who were Ba Na ethnic people. The main products were wallets and bags. Members only created products when they had spare time.

So far, the cooperative has provided four three-month training courses to teach brocade weaving and improve skills for its members. Accordingly, 200 women studied and clearly knew how basic techniques to make brocade products. It also organized training courses for students during summer.

There are more than 10,000 people in Glar commune. 95% of the population are Ba Na ethnic people. Brocade weaving in villages have helped the village preserve Ba Na ethnic traditional identities and create products, contributing to poverty alleviation in locality.

Over the past time, Gia Lai province has also organized festivals and contests on brocade weaving and supported the establishment of cooperatives and clubs, thus encouraging Ba Na ethnic people to participate in the preservation of the traditional weaving./.