Traditional Brocade Weaving Craft
Weaving, embroidery, and sewing are long-standing traditional activities of the Vietnamese people, especially often performed manually by the skillful hands of women in rural villages. Weaving techniques and patterns are unique characteristics of each ethnic group. In Hòa Bình, the Mường ethnic group makes up 60% of the population, and this province has the highest percentage of Mường people in the country. Lạc Sơn District, where over 90% of the population is Mường, is renowned as one of the four famous Mường regions nationwide – Mường Vang. Brocade weaving is one of the traditional crafts that the Mường people in Lạc Sơn have preserved and developed over many generations.
STEM Lesson in Weaving Engineering Design
The STEM workshop for women: “Weaving – The Programming of Threads” is inspired by the weaving craft of the Mường people, with the aim of connecting tradition and modernity, viewing weaving techniques not just as a manual activity but also as a sophisticated engineering design. At the workshop, students had the opportunity to closely observe and discuss the patterns on traditional Mường costumes. They also discussed the application of science and technology in preserving and promoting traditional weaving crafts. One of the prominent and challenging activities was the experience of designing patterns based on given motifs. This activity not only sparked creativity but also helped students understand the technical process in weaving. They were introduced to characteristic motifs of the Mường people and recreated these patterns using colored paper. Enthusiastically working in groups, they discovered the rules of thread interlacing, color coordination, and crafted unique designs. Many students, participating in this activity for the first time, found that approaching brocade weaving through an engineering design process made it more engaging and interesting.
The Role of Women and Girls in Rural and Highland Areas
Women and girls in rural areas, particularly in ethnic minority communities like the Mường people, play a crucial role in maintaining and developing traditional crafts. They are not only the practitioners but also the preservers and transmitters of skills and knowledge to future generations. The workshop “Weaving – The Programming of Threads” emphasized this role, affirming that women and girls can continue cultural traditions and contribute to modernizing and improving production processes through STEM skills.
Applying STEM to Preserve and Promote Traditional Cultural Values
The workshop also highlighted how STEM knowledge can be applied to preserve and promote traditional crafts. For instance, using design software to create patterns or automated machinery to weave fabric not only increases productivity but also opens up new opportunities for creativity and product development.
The workshop “Weaving – The Programming of Threads” was not just an enriching academic playground but also a bridge between tradition and modernity. It helped students understand their cultural heritage more deeply and introduced new approaches to preserving and developing traditional crafts using modern technology. The role of rural women and girls was affirmed and elevated, demonstrating that they can be pioneers in applying STEM to rejuvenate and advance traditional crafts.
