Piêu scarves are made from cotton woven fabric, then dyed indigo black. When the fabric is dry, Thai women begin to embroider on it colorful and eye-catching patterns with colored threads. Each Piêu scarf is usually equal to, or longer than, an adult girl's arm span. To make a complete, beautiful Piêu scarf with full motifs and patterns, it takes from 2 to 4 weeks. However, if the woman is busy working in the fields, or doing other jobs, the Piêu embroidery is only done in the evening, it takes several months to complete a Piêu scarf.

Pieu scarf is embroidered with colorful thread

Pieu is an inseparable part of the costume of the Black Thai woman.

Ms. Lo Thi Banh in Mai Son district, Son La province said that Pieu is an important and indispensable item in the lives of Thai women: "Wherever we go and whatever we do, we wear Pieu. When we go out or visit, we wear a new one to look beautiful; when we go to the fields, we wear an old one to protect us from the sun and wind; in the winter, we wear or wrap it around ourselves to keep us warm... In general, Pieu scarves are indispensable items for Thai women."

To make a complete, beautiful Piêu scarf with full motifs and patterns, it takes from 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes even months.

Lo Thi Hong Nhung in Pat village, Chieng Ngan commune, Son La city said that Pieu embroidery is done at both ends of the scarf, in the length of about 2 hand spans. In which, the 3 outer edges are often embroidered with patterns called "cut Pieu", "sai peng" and "ta leo" with the concept: "cut Pieu" is a noble gift of the superior; "sai peng" is the love string of couples; "ta leo" is an object to ward off evil spirits, protect the spirit of the person wearing the scarf... Inside, it is mainly embroidered with zigzag, fish bone, diamond, or sawtooth patterns...

It is noteworthy that the embroidery patterns do not have a mandatory pattern, but depend on each person's creativity and preferences.

Thai girl with Pieu scarf going to festival

Hong Nhung said: "When I make Piêu, for example, I like to embroider a triangle; others can embroider flowers, or attach glitter to create highlights. I like simplicity so I don't attach anything. In general, making Piêu depends on each person's ideas."

Thai girls have been taught by their grandmothers and mothers how to embroider, sew, and weave scarves since they were young. Learning to embroider Pieu scarves is a process of learning and training their skillful hands. By the age of 15 or 16, Thai girls have mastered embroidery, sewing, and weaving scarves, ready for their wedding day, because at that time, Pieu scarves are an indispensable gift for brides to give to their husband's family when they become a bride.

According to Ms. Lo Thi Hoan, in Chieng Co commune, Son La city, Pieu scarf is also the standard to evaluate the talent, virtue, diligence and dexterity of Thai women.

Ms. Hoan shared: "In the past, Thai women who did not know how to embroider could not get married. They had to know how to embroider Piêu scarves to give to their husband's family. From grade 3 and 4, they started learning to embroider. Not only Piêu but also pillows, blankets, mattresses... had to be made."

Every year, Son La City, within the framework of the Ban Flower Festival, organizes a Pieu scarf embroidery competition.

The first patterns when embroidering Piêu scarves

Through many generations, the Pieu scarf is still cherished, preserved and developed by the Thai people.

In Son La city alone, within the framework of the annual Ban Flower Festival, a Pieu scarf embroidery competition is held, with the aim of preserving, maintaining and promoting the traditional culture of the Thai ethnic group. It is an opportunity for Thai girls to exchange, learn and share experiences in scarf embroidery. At the same time, it helps visitors understand more about the value of the Pieu scarf in the spiritual life of the people, because today, the Pieu scarf has become a meaningful souvenir for domestic and foreign tourists when coming to Son La - Northwest.

According to: vov.gov.vn