May (Dao Tuyển)
2019 10m 4K 1.85
Heritage Shorts #1
In the first of a new series of short films from Heritage Centre Sapa in association with Open Cinematic, we meet May of the Dao Tuyển in Lai Châu province. The cultivation of ramie, a flowering plant in the nettle family, for use in textiles is unique to the Dao Tuyển.
Ramie is native to East Asia. Its fibres have been used in textiles by the Dao Tuyển for centuries and use of the plant is known to span over 6,000 years.
Stems are harvested by cutting just above the roots. This enables the bark to be broken and stripped from the core. After harvesting, the bark ribbon is dried as quickly as possible, preventing bacteria and fungi from attacking it. The end product is one of the strongest natural fibres.
The spun threads have an inherent stiffness like linen and so can be woven into a lightweight open weave pattern that is cool in humid climates. Extremely absorbent, much more so than cotton, ramie fabrics breathe well and make comfortable clothing. The fabric does not shrink and it is resistant to bacteria and mildew, which means it does not rot easily.
Natural, strong and organic ramie bags are handmade by the Dao Tuyển by intricately knotting the fibres and dying with indigo. These bags are produced over many weeks and designed to last many years. They are most frequently used when foraging for wild fruit and mushrooms. The bags are also used to take goods to market and used as shopping bags to carry any purchased items home.
Remarkably, ramie is also used by the Vietnamese to make a glutinous rice cake, bánh gai. Ramie leaves give the outer layer its dark green colour.
