(VOVworld) – Unlike other ethnic groups in Phu Yen province like the Cham and the Bana, the Ede ethnic people have retained their traditional weaving craft. In addition to their traditional long houses, papooses and hunting tools, weaving looms are indispensible in their lives.

Ede women in Song Hinh have for years been weaving various patterns of brocade. 70-year-old Mi Blu has been practicing this craft for more than 50 years. She says: “I learned weaving with this loom and still use it today. I learned weaving techniques from my mother and other senior villagers. In the past, women who did not know how to weave were considered clumsy. Women make all the clothes in the family.”  

In contrast to looms of other ethnic groups, Ede looms are made of separate bamboo sticks. Ede women sit in front of the loom and weave the brocade vertically. Before weaving, they figure out how to arrange the threads to create the pattern they want. Mi Blu said that good health, imagination and foot and hand coordination are needed to become an accomplished weaver: “The artisan must have a good sitting posture when weaving. The feet must be strong and the hands must be firm to produce stiff and durable fabric. The patterns depend on the tastes of the artisan.”

Doctor of ethnicities Thu Nhung Mlo Duon Du talked to VOV about Ede patterns: “Traditional Ede patterns depict natural things such as tree leaves, flowers and animals. These elements are stylized to create different designs. Ede women now prefer to copy the designs carved on tombs to weave into their dresses. This has been a big change in their thinking.”

The uniqueness of Ede brocade lies in its combination of colors. Ede people use natural materials such as tree leaves, barks and roots to dye the threads. They use the bark of the indigo tree to produce a dark blue color, saffron to produce a yellow color, and the bark of the chestnut tree to produce a brown color. Almost all Ede groups use black and red as the base colors for their clothing. Doctor Du says: “Black and red are the two main colors of Ede clothing. However, a typical dress of an Ede woman has 5 colors: black, red, yellow, blue, and green. These were the first colors that Ede people created.”