QuangNam (VNA) - Vietnam is yet to show the world how special its silk isand how skilled its craftswomen and craftsmen are, experts said on June 12.

Furthermore,the domestic silk industry has also not caught up with the times, and hasfailed to come up with new designs and products to meet the needs of aglobalised world.

Poormarketing, weak brand promotion and dull designs are major obstacles preventingthe expansion of Vietnamese silk in world markets, they added.

Experts,traders and craftsmen voiced their opinions at a seminar held under theauspices of the International Silk and Brocade Festival in Hoi An city.

Eightylocal artisans from 12 craft villages in Vietnam as well as representativesfrom other Asian countries discussed ways to promote and preserve the silk trade,including boosting exchanges between countries.

“Thefestival is an opportunity for members of the International Silk Association toreview current developments in the traditional trade, and map out future waysfor handmade silk in the context of climate change and rapid urbanisation,”said Le Thai Vu, Chairman of the Quang Nam Silk Company.

FeiJianming, General Secretary of the International Silk Association, said thefestival honoured the silk trade in Hoi An and the world.

“HoiAn silk has contributed greatly to the development of silk in the world.Craftsmen from Vietnam and other countries in the region will take thisopportunity to share views on how to promote the trade,” Jianming said.

Jianming,who is also Director of the Hangzhou Silk Culture and Brand Research Centre,said silk villages from Vietnam should join fairs in China for promoting theirproducts.

FumioKato, a project leader with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency(JICA) in Minamibousou city, Japan, said: “Hoi An silk and Vietnam should builda modern silk trade with unique value.

“Silkproducts must be designed for daily use in the context of rapid globalisation,”Kato told Viet Nam News.

“Vietnam’ssilk should show the world how special it is. You must preserve your silktradition with new, usable designs for modern days,” he said, adding Vietnamand Hoi An have to perfect every process of silk making in a meticulous manner.

Agood living

Katoalso warned that craftsmen need to make a good living from silk production ifthe country does not want the traditional trade to disappear soon.

Hesaid the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNESCO and JICA havesupported Hoi An in mapping a sustainable way for the future of the traditionaltrade.

Hewarned against producing poor quality silk in the pursuit of profit, saying Vietnammust persuade picky customers about the real value of traditional silk.  

LuongThanh Hanh, 30, who revived a traditional silk village in Thai Binh provincethree years ago, said businesses have yet to support craftsmen with marketingand promotion at world trade fairs.

Shesaid Nam Cao village – known for its handmade tussore, has recovered using newproduction and marketing methods.

“Customersprefer handmade and chemical-free tussore,” Hạnh said.

Shesaid more than 1,000 tussore towels and scarves were being shipped to Japaneach month, excluding thousands of products sold at domestic shops.

LyThi Diem Hong of the Van Giao Silk village populated by the Khmer ethniccommunity in An Giang province, said the village co-operative has beenstruggling to design marketable products and sell them.

Shesaid their designs were still limited to Buddhist motifs, pagodas, elephantsand the Buddha, with scarves and sarongs being the most popular products.

Thesilk trade in Quang Nam developed during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty. Itwas influenced by the Cham people in the coastal central region.

LeThai Vu, general director of the Quang Nam Silk Company, successfullyre-discovered the mulberry plant that the Cham had used during an expedition inQue Son district in 2012, after Japanese cultural researchers had failed intheir efforts to find the plant.

Theongoing festival also presents the creations of French fashion designers, majorChinese fashion houses and famous silk villages of Vietnam.-VNA