Lotus leaf conical hat is just close to nature, unique and bearing the Vietnamese national identity, making an impression on visitors when visiting Hue city.
For hundreds of years, the conical hat has been an item to protect people out of the sun and rain from Vietnamese women. And the conical hat is considered as a beautiful symbol associated with the image of the romantic Hue particularly and Vietnamese women generally. Tourists come to Hue often to Dong Ba market; to the craft villages to find a few hats to bring home as gifts. From the beauty of the conical hat; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thao has continued to blow his soul into the hat with the work of the lotus leaf conical hat; a tourist product that is both beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
Born in the village of Doc So, Hue city, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thao has repeatedly pondered how to find unique souvenirs and tourism products but still imprinted with the symbol of the ancient capital. After finishing the Department of Graphic Design, School of Art at Hue University; once sitting by the lotus lake, Mr. Thanh Thao recalled his childhood with the summer lunches with his friends plucked lotus leaf and put it on their head to shade the sun. He came up with an idea: why not make a lotus leaf hat. Because the lotus leaf is shaped like a hat with the pretty embossed lines. Plus; lotus leaves are thick; have ductility and gloss.
After so many times doing it over and over again, the idea finally came true; his passion and perseverance led him to succeed: “The nature of the lotus leaf is waterproof. That meets the requirements of the hat to withstand rain and shine.
To achieve the standard of the lotus conical hat, first, the lotus leaf must be beautiful, the second is the technique of weaving the leaf cone, the third is the color reproduction technique. In general, we have to create a harmonious and qualified Vietnamese conical hat”.
To make a lotus leaf conical hat, in addition to performing the same steps as a normal conical hat, such as selecting leaves, framing, broaching, polishing …, it needs more sophistication and meticulousness. First is to handle lotus leaf. Specifically, after selecting the fresh lotus leaves of moderate age, the lotus leaves are brewed with javel water, then dried and then taken to the hat. The lotus leaf layer is the outer layer of the hat.
Therefore, when carrying out this stage; the worker must cut the lotus leaves carefully so that it can keep the lotus pattern and waves. The last step is to paint over the entire hat to preserve and retain the original green color of the lotus leaf: “The diameter of the lotus leaf to make the conical hat is about 70 cm. And the special thing is that each leaf of the lotus leaf does not resemble any leaf thanks to the different leaf veins. Therefore, each hat is a unique product, creating excitement for users.
Lotus leaf conical hats by artist Nguyen Thanh Thao are highly appreciated for their high quality and aesthetics; so at Hue Traditional Craft Festival 2019, his display stall was always visited by many visitors. The price of each lotus leaf conical hat is higher than the usual ones; but because it is very attractive, many tourists are interested in buying.
With passion, creative enthusiasm for art has brought the boy of Hue to the expected results; up to now; artist Nguyen Thanh Thao is still trying to develop more handicraft products made from lotus leaf such as book baskets; paintings … With these achievements; a part of the tourism industry in Thua Thien Hue is more and more developed, and it is also a good impression of Hue Ancient Capital to friends around the world.
Lucy (Ms.)
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