8/12/2019 Silk Weaving is One of Many Traditional Crafts With Long

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Silk weaving is one of many traditional crafts with long-standing history. And the most outstanding one

has always been Ha Dong silk woven in Van Phuc, Ha DongFrom time immemorial, nearly all Ha Dong

inhabitants involves in Silk weaving. Van Phuc silk weaving village has been known of as the oldest

producer of most beautiful and sophisticated silk in our country

A legend relates that the founder of Van Phuc silk weaving village was originally a lady from Hangzhou ,China who followed her husband to battle down in the south and the settle down in this village. She

poured her entire twisting home nostalgia onto silkworm raising and her loom. Silk weaving appeared

and has since become a traiditional craft of Van Phuc

In order to churn out highest quality silk products, artisants have to undergo numerous stages : from

planting mulberry and raising silkworms; unwinding silk threads from cocoons to manual silk thread

classification. This stage is called silk thread winding.

Then comes the stage in which silk threads are wound around large vertical spools and defective threads

are eliminated. Next, weavers vertically engage silk threads of certain amount loom for a required width

of a specific product. Finally, the arranged vertical threads are placed on the loom or sent for processing

so as to gain increased durability. Depeding on each type of silk, such as flowered silk, satin silk, wave-

designed silk etc., different kinds of looms are used.

Previously, weavers used to launch shuttles through the weaving frame in very high looms.. The came

the time shulltes were pulled by a cord. And it was the time of improved flower-inserted loom which

required two weavers : one under the loom while the other was atop inserting every single silk thread

to create flower patterns. Nowadays, automated weaving machines are able to insert every desired

flower pattern.

Van Phuc silk is famous nationwide thanks to artisans skillful and talented hands, their unmatched

patience and high aesthetic sense. Van Phuc weavers have sophisticatedly added a wide range of birds,

animals and flowers to their products. In creating different kinds of soft, shining and light silk products,

silk has to be bleached and rinsed so as to eliminate 25% of impure substances from silk threads. Then it

is dyed with different colors; however, its original color is always the best because only such color is

most beautiful and unfading.

Van Phuc silk was once only used for national costumes for king or royal family. Van Phuc silk is soft,

durable and light from generation to generation. The most famous Van Phuc product is Lua Van or Van

silk. Van means cloud since Lua Van billows like a cloud. Producing Lua Van is a demonstration of the

slkill ofa Van Phuc silk weaver. Among Van Phuc silk products, perhaps satin silk is the most elegant and

luxurious. Van Phuc inhabitants have long regarded silk as a precious product and honoured is as local

spirit.

Silk is very suitable to the hot weather of Vietnam. Such characteristics as being light, cool and

protective against several types of sun rays can only be found in natural silk. Vna Phuc inhabitants

determined to uphold the age-old traditional craft of their locality. And such is a tribute paid to their

ancestors. Van Phuc silk futher enhance the pure and elegant beauty of Vietnamese women.