For the last 20 years, FIDR has been supporting ethnic minority groups in central Vietnam in producing traditional weaving products as well as increasing their income by promoting selling products. This traditional weaving was registered as intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Vietnam in 2014, and a Traditional Weaving Network of Central Vietnam was established in 2019. These weaving products were also introduced at the international fashion show and the international conference on ICH conducted by UNESCO this year.

This year, the weaving group received an order of 900 weaving pass holders from the Labor Union of Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd Koga Branch. The Koga branch which has been supporting FIDR for a long time celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Labor Union wanted to present the weaving pass holders to their workers as mementoes for their contribution.

While lockdown was enforced throughout the country by the impact of COVID-19, and due to the first time of making these products, the weaving group tried to make the pass holders carefully one by one. They combined the color, designed the pocket to make it easy to use, put on the strap, etc to make the pass holders beautiful. Finally, they could provide the most beautiful products to the customers in Japan.

Mr Kitajima, Director of Koga branch shared “When I hold a pass holder in my hand, I felt that it is totally different with the ready-made products and I feel the passion of the people who made it. Each one has different design and color, so I felt special and unique. It’s really suitable for the era of diversity. I will use it carefully as a present of the traditional culture of Vietnam.”