(VOVWORLD) - The conical hat-making craft has existed in Chuong village in Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, for four centuries, but only a few artisans are still making an effort to preserve this tradition. Ta Thu Huong has not only done her best to preserve the craft, but has worked to bring Chuong village’s conical hats to the world.
 Artisan Ta Thu Huong and her conical hats. (Photo: VOV) |
Ta Thu Huong was born in 1968. In her house in Chuong village on the outskirts of Hanoi, several people are working on palm-leaf conical hats covered with colorful silk. Despite the meticulous skill it requires to make a hat, a conical hat in Chuong village sells for just 4 USD.
“There are a number of steps in making a conical hat. First, the leaves are sun-dried and ironed flat. The next step is to make a bamboo frame and weave the leaves around it. Finally, we cover the conical hat with silk. It takes at least 5 hours to make a conical hat,” villager Pham Thi Huyen said.
Covering the traditional leaf conical hat with silk produced in Hanoi’s Ha Dong district was Thu Huong’s creation, which makes Chuong village’s products unique. The skilled artisans quickly caught on to the new technique, according to villager Pham Thi Mai.
“My family has made conical hats for many generations. In order to export conical hats to the world, we needed to improve the traditional design. In the past, we made only plain conical hats. Now we paint, embroider, and cover the hats to create a greater variety,” said Mai.
Thu Huong has made conical hats for nearly 50 years. She is one of the few local artisans still trying to promote the craft.
“When I was little, I saw that the villagers were struggling to earn a living from traditional conical hats. After graduating from high school, I started promoting the product to export companies. I also invested in improving the design of the hats. Finally, I got my first contract with a company in Hung Yen province,” said Huong.
 Chuong village's conical hats of different sizes are used as decorative items. (Photo: VOV) |
To meet market demand, Huong has come up with several conical hat designs, some to be worn and some meant as works of art.
“I’ve modified the traditional conical hat to meet the needs of exporters. An Australian couple visited Chuong village and ordered conical hats in several different sizes and colors. We need to tailor our products to the customers’ demands.”
Chuong village’s conical hats are now being exported to many countries including Japan, South Korea, and EU states. Each year, 30,000 conical hats are exported, generating a good income for the hat-makers.
“I introduced the innovation of silk conical hats which are now very popular. Many villagers have returned to conical hat making as a way to enjoy a stable income,” said Huong.