Tussah silk is lightweight, porous and cool, making it highly favored in the fashion industry. In Vietnam, there is a craft village renowned for tussah silk weaving: Nam Cao tussah silk weaving village.
Where is Nam Cao tussah silk weaving village?
Nam Cao tussah silk weaving village is located in Nam Cao commune, Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province, a little over 100 kilometers from Hanoi.
History of Nam Cao tussah silk weaving village
The craft of tussah silk weaving in Nam Cao dated back to around 1584. Legend has it that two women, Tu Tien and Tu An, returned to their old hometown in Van Xa village, Bat Bat district (old Ha Tay province) to learn the craft of mulberry cultivation, silkworm farming, tussah silk pulling, reeling, and weaving. Then, they came back to Nam Cao village and passed the craft down to the younger generations.
The craft of tussah silk weaving in Nam Cao has existed for several hundred years. (Photo from the Internet)
During Vietnam’s renovation period, the market economy posed challenges that threatened the survival of tussah silk weaving craft in Nam Cao. By 1992, the craft was revived, and at its peak, more than 2,000 households were engaged in production, with around 5,000 looms operating day and night at full capacity.
Distinctive features of Nam Cao tussah silk weaving craft
It takes over 15 steps and approximately 60 days to create a complete piece of tussah silk fabric, starting from silkworm farming to weaving and dyeing. The primary steps include pulling tussah silk threads, reeling tussah silk yarn, weaving, and dying.
Pulling tussah silk threads: The cocoons are boiled to pull tussah silk threads. This step appears simple but is extremely laborious, requiring workers to continuously soak their hands in water, regardless of the weather. However, after an entire day of hard work, only 70 – 100 grams of tussah silk threads can be collected.
Pulling tussah silk threads is an extremely laborious task. (Photo from the Internet)
Reeling tussah silk yarn: Tussah silk is spun into yarn and reeled into coils, ready for weaving.
Tussah silk is reeled into coils. (Photo from the Internet)
Weaving: The artisans use traditional looms to weave tussah silk fabrics that appear rustic yet durable.
Tussah silk is woven on the loom. (Photo from the Internet)
Dyeing: Once woven, the fabric undergoes dyeing. In the past, Nam Cao tussah silk was limited to the natural shades of earthy brown and ivory white. Nowadays, more colors have been introduced, but they still originate from natural materials, such as red from gac fruit, purple from black sticky rice, green from leaves, yellow from cocoons, and brown from Terminalia catappa leaves.
Tussah silk fabric from Nam Cao. (Photo from the Internet)
Nam Cao tussah silk has a slightly rough surface, giving it a rustic, warm, and unique feel. Besides, tussah silk is porous, highly breathable, well absorbs sweat and reduces body odor, making it ideal for Vietnam’s hot and humid climate. Wearing tussah silk keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter.
Nam Cao tussah silk is entirely made from natural materials and can last long when properly preserved. Thus, it is not only skin-friendly but also eco-friendly.
Nam Cao tussah silk fabric is used for fashion products. (Photo from the Internet)
Nowadays, Nam Cao tussah silk is widely used to make trousers, shirts, ao dai, scarves, bags, etc. Given its eco-friendly nature, it is also highly favored in the sustainable fashion industry.
Hopefully, this article offered you a detailed understanding of the famous 400-year-old Nam Cao tussah silk weaving village.
