Vindigo takes pride in bringing Hmong handwoven products to the world, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the sophisticated and skilled hands of H’mong women like Ms. Vang. Today, let's hear from Ms. Khu herself as she shares her passion for sewing and the process of making bags from traditional H’mong batik fabric.
Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Vang, and I am a teacher at Yen Bai province. In addition to teaching, I also embroider traditional tribal clothes of the H'mong people, primarily for personal use and for my family.
When did you first develop a passion for sewing bags?
I initially embroidered clothes for my family, but my love for traditional fabric led me to start sewing bags for commercial purposes.
When did you start sewing bags?
I have been interested in patterned bags since my school days. I hand-sewed my first bag in 2000, and my passion for bag making has stayed with me ever since. Every summer vacation, I would learn new techniques and make bags for friends and relatives who share my love for sewing. I started pursuing a business of sewing bags to sell to customers only in the summer of 2022.
Where did you learn how to sew bags?
Initially, I used my imagination to create bags, but over time, I learned unique bag sewing methods from YouTube videos. I try to sew modern bags that retain the traditional identity of H'mong fabric.
Can you walk us through the process of making a bag?
Firstly, I acquire materials by buying used indigo-dyed fabric from the H'mong. Next, I sew the original parts of the bag, such as the strap and the buckle. Finally, I embroider the pattern to complete the bag. Although the process sounds straightforward, it is time-consuming and challenging, and I can only make about two or three bags a month.
What makes you proud of your bag products?
The feature that makes me the proudest is that the design ideas reflect modern and bold H'mong traditional clothing culture, which has been well received and loved by everyone.
How do you feel when making a tribal hand-sewn bag by yourself?
I feel both happy and worried. I am happy because I finally made the bag that I've been cherishing for a long time and worried because I don't know if I can sell it. I haven't found a selling channel for my products yet.
As a teacher, how do you balance teaching and pursuing your passion for making brocade bags?
Since I teach almost every day of the week, I can only embroider tribal fabric at night and on Sundays, so sewing bags is still difficult. Due to time constraints, I have not been able to offer a variety of models to sell to customers.
Do you have any customers, and who are they usually?
Because I recently started sewing bags, my customers are not many, mainly close friends and friends who are interested in my products. However, I believe that my handwoven products will be loved by people worldwide.
What is your message for everyone who loves tribal sewing culture?
It is essential to work together to preserve and promote the cultural characteristics of each nation and each region. We should educate the younger generation to continue to preserve their passion for traditional professions and maintain this unique culture for future generations.