From lotus flower to silk - the unique journey of Phung Xa village

The Phung Xa silk weaving village in Hanoi has long been known as the cradle of mulberry farming, silkworm raising, and silk weaving craft in the northern region.

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Artisan Phan Thi Thuan is believed to be the first person to successfully weave silk from lotus fibers in Vietnam.

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Born into a family with generations of mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk weaving, Thuan follows the traditional craft from the young age.

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She has engaged herself in pursuit of a unique product line-weaving fabric from lotus silk.

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Local lotus ponds have become the source of raw materials for creating lotus silk. From the lotus plant which has been closely associated with Vietnamese life for a long time, the artisan has found a way to create a completely new type of silk thread.

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Lotus flowers are harvested at dawn, when the stems are cool and full of nutrients, ensuring the finest silk fibers

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Lotus stems, normally discarded, are collected fresh to extract delicate silk threads. They are collected on the same day to preserve the natural moisture of the silk threads.

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Lotus stems are harvested, cleaned, and processed quickly to extract more fibers, ensuring bright and soft silk.

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Extracting lotus silk from lotus stems is the most difficult step in the process of making lotus fabric.

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Lotus silk is dried in the shade and then further processed to remove the natural resin from the lotus stem. Only after these steps are completed, the silk thread is ready to be woven on the loom.

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Lotus silk threads are off-white in colour.

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After extensive research, artisan Phan Thi Thuan transforms lotus stem fibers into a unique line of silk products

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Lotus silk is woven entirely by hand.

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The delicate lotus silk threads are interwoven to create a durable silk fabric. This process requires a great deal of time and patience from the artisan.

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On traditional looms, delicate lotus silk threads are woven into soft fabrics. To create a finished piece of fabric, the craftsman must be very meticulous because the amount of silk thread obtained from lotus stems is quite small compared to silkworm silk.

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Lotus silk fabrics have natural colours, and they are soft and lightweight. The fibers have a certain degree of elasticity, providing a comfortable feeling for people.

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From the lotus stems of the countryside, local villagers in Phung Xa have created unique handcrafted products that bear the distinctive mark of the village's creativity.