Empowering ethnic women through a cultural and sustainable development project

Empowering ethnic women through a cultural and sustainable development project

RMIT students and lecturers are working with the University’s partners to preserve traditional brocade weaving of Thai ethnic groups, upskill and improve the livelihoods of ethnic minority women.

The “Hyphen” virtual exhibition marks the inaugural success of the “Women’s empowerment for ethnic women in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh through cultural sustainability” joint project between Vietnam Women’s Museum, RMIT University and Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre. The exhibition is open to the public from 10/12/2021 to 10/03/2022.

With a variety of display forms such as photos, videos, and interviews, the exhibition is divided into two themes including “Generating ideas” and “Supporting the community”.

The “Hyphen” virtual exhibition is open to the public from 10/12/2021 to 10/03/2022.

The exhibition aims to raise the voices and concerns of Thai women in adapting with modern life while preserving their traditional culture; spreading awareness of traditional culture of the young generation to the public; and convey the mutual working process among the stakeholders in connecting and creating new products using the traditional brocade weaving techniques of Thai people in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh.

Initiated from 2020, the project includes various activities from all involved partners. The Vietnam Women’s Museum pioneered in coordinating and recommending practical solutions for proposed design ideas. Fifty RMIT Bachelor of Fashion (Enterprise) first-year students joined the design process which resulted in 21 bag designs , 18 clothing design and 12 modern patterns using Thai cultural elements. Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre participated in the production process to create products that are inspired by Thai cultural identity but with a contemporary twist.

RMIT fashion students joined the design process which resulted in twenty one designs of bags, eighteen designs of clothing and twelve modern patterns using Thai cultural elements.

Vietnam Women's Museum Director Ms Nguyen Hai Van shared the Museum’s mission in spreading cultural and historical values of ethnic minority women to the community.

"As a communication unit under the Vietnam Women's Union, we are always aware of our mission in communicating to preserve and promote the cultural and historical heritage of the community, especially ethnic minority women groups,” Ms Van said.

“With the worthwhile and sustainable initial results of the project, we sincerely hope that the project model will be replicated to many other ethnic women groups and create new cultural values in responding to the development of today's society."

A bag pattern design to be displayed at the exhibition.

RMIT Dean of School of Communication & Design Professor Julia Gaimster emphasised the University’s effort in preserving the unique cultural heritage of Vietnam.

“RMIT University is committed to supporting the Vietnamese community by using our expertise and resources to enable the preservation of the craft and heritage skills in Vietnam and to address challenges that have been heightened in the recent pandemic - putting many of the smaller community producers at risk,” Professor Gaimster said.

The project aims to upskill and improve the livelihoods of ethnic minority women in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh.

Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre owner and artisan Vi Thi Thuan shared the challenges during the project implementation and the values that the project has brought to Thai people.

“We encountered difficulties in designing products that suit the tastes of customers, especially young people,” Ms Thuan said.

“It is our pleasure to receive the project’s support to improve the capacity in production and product development and create more sustainable jobs for our women while preserving our cultural identity,” Ms Thuan added. “I hope the project will be further expanded and get more public attention.”

RMIT fashion student Do Le Ha My expressed her desire to spread the meaning of the project to young people.

“Through the project, I can see the diversity and richness of traditional values and cultures of ethnic minorities in Vietnam,” My said.

“I also see the need to preserve and promote these cultural heritages for future generations.”

Vietnam Women's Museum, RMIT University and other stakeholders will continue to accompany Thai ethnic group in Hoa Binh to implement the next phase of commercialising the products developed from the project.

The online exhibition can be accessed here.

Story: Thuy Le

16 December 2021

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