Bride at a wedding of the Red Dao ethnic minority.
"Some experiences have the power to change the course of your life forever." This is how the fashion designer and consultant Thao Phuong speaks to us, passionate about traditional textiles, female empowerment and sustainability in travel. She is the creator of TextileSeekers, a platform that brings all of that together with her rich Vietnamese heritage. “I will never forget my first encounters with the women of the Red Tao tribe, after riding on the back of a beat-up motorcycle to his village. Sitting in the presence of these extraordinary women, taking embroidery lessons and see how a truly fascinating heritage is kept alive through craftsmanship and passion... It was then that I knew I was at the beginning of a great adventure.”
The decision to launch TextileSeekers did not come overnight. “I worked in the fashion world for years and was increasingly aware of a growing dissonance within me. The uncomfortable truth of the textile and fashion industries is that, like many others, they contribute to environmental and socio-economic problems. So I decided to use my skills and my platform to be part of the solution and fight against unsustainability. in fashion. While TextileSeekers is a collaborative project and based on our interactions with inspiring women, the company is still very much my project – no middleman, just me!”
Once it began to wake up to the reality of sustainability issues within the industry, it was clear to him that any effort to restore balance would have to be done through education, experience, and an authentic connection to culture. "Anyone can go on vacation and have a cursory experience with the culture and people they visit. However, digging below the surface, taking the time to learn from the tribes and recognizing how their sustainable practices have influenced your skills for centuries... These are lessons that will stay with you forever.”
Woman of the H'mong tribe.
Born in Vietnam, Thao grew up in Melbourne. “There I was called Việt Kiều, a term meaning 'Vietnamese foreigner' that is often used to describe people of my heritage living abroad. This led me to frequently question my identity throughout my childhood and during my formative years. Was she Australian? Vietnamese? Something completely different? From this duality came the curiosity and commitment to learn everything I could about my cultures, my origin and its contribution to the world. Today, I call the beautiful city of Barcelona home. Its vibrant and dynamic urban environment it never fails to inspire and amaze the creative part of me.”
Throughout her career, Thao learned much from traditional and tribal artisans, and she felt the time had come to give something back. It was this drive that led to the creation of TextileSeekers, a new kind of travel company bridging the gap between the modern and ancient worlds. and that seeks to connect culture, mindfulness and slow fashion. “Our cultural tours link slow travelers with local artisans, directly supporting these communities and discovering a rich heritage cultural”, she explains to us.
“It quickly became clear to me that it was not just about opening the doors to traditional Vietnamese communities, it was a tool with which to raise awareness and actively fight against the consequences of fast fashion. It is an opportunity to show the beauty of 'slow fashion' while redefining our concept of luxury: our impactful retreats balance education and experience, attracting those looking to make a difference and get meaningful encounters along the way,” she stresses.
Hills of Sa Pa, in Vietnam.
AN EVENING IMMERSION
TextileSeekers is more than a travel company, as its creator explains. “It is a community united by sustainability, responsibility and the will to defend crafts and support traditional artisans. In a world increasingly dominated by fast and disposable fashion, tribes in Vietnam and around the world, whose skills have been honed over generations, They deserve more recognition and support than ever. We seek to uphold your work and are grounded in a spirit of giving back; after all, the fashion industry owes a huge debt of gratitude to these women and their age-old skills.”
Their guided retreats allow visitors to gain remarkable insight into the traditions of tribal textile industries, and provide opportunities to meet and learn from Vietnamese indigenous tribes and study their traditions and practices. These are immersive, revealing and multifaceted experiences that combine wellness and meditation, the coming together of women seeking mind-expanding encounters with tribes and artisans, and the opportunity to broaden their skill set of oneself and find inspiration in generations of textile experience.
Women of the H'mong tribe in the market.
“We are always focused on the spirit of giving back, through our interactions with indigenous creatives and through our connection with the NGOs Pacific Links and Restoring Vision, our travelers directly and indirectly support to our partners and the communities we visit,” Thao comments. Through carefully selected workshops, tours of markets, museums, towns... Those on a TextileSeekers retreat are invited to open their hearts and minds to a whole new notion of 'slow' travel. "It's a transformative encounter."
Thao Phuong is the creator of TextileSeekers.
WOMEN AT THE MEETING OF WOMEN
The project addresses a global audience: women from all over the world who are attracted to traditional Vietnamese handicrafts and who want to celebrate and learn from them. “Retreats are journeys of discovery: we search for the origins of fabrics and the stories that intertwine throughout their colorful histories. Thus, we look beyond the historic and majestic city of Hanoi to the unspoiled paradise of Sa Pa, following an ancient route that includes markets, museums, hidden alleys, workshops and traditional tribal villages. Along the way, we will meet colorful characters, encounter majestic natural landscapes and we will have the opportunity to connect deeply with this incredible culture and its precious textiles.”
Artisan of the Red Dao tribe working silver.
“Each retreat is made up of eight to ten women, gathered in an intimate group that creates a powerful and lasting bond. Because we are a small business, those interested in getting involved will always have to contact me directly throughout the booking process. We have the opportunity to chat and learn from each other before each trip!”
The most complicated? “Without a doubt, it will meet everyone's expectations, since each comes with their own wish list of things they hope to see or do while in Vietnam. Although this is often difficult, it is also a challenge that I enjoy”, she stresses.
Harvest of water lilies in Vietnam.
Always, she also confesses, she returns from each adventure with a great amount of joy and pride, although the most satisfying part is seeing the female travelers connect deeply with the artisans. “We all manage to speak a common language: the women of the tribe do not speak any English, and yet we communicate. It's fascinating how complicated things can be made by humans, and yet there's always that fundamental exchange of ideas, emotions and experiences. Is beautiful!".
Embroidery in the Red Dao tribe.
Each trip is unique, and has its own dynamic, a result of the group of women involved and their personalities. We will always try to be open to opportunities and keep the trips as dynamic as possible," says Thao. For example, we were honored to be invited to a wedding at Red Dao, which was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There is also a lot of room for spontaneity. On our last trip, I managed to make an excursion to another tribal village, where I witnessed beautiful traditional embroidery techniques. It wasn't part of the itinerary, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
AND WHILE WE TRAVEL AGAIN... WHAT?
As for what has changed by the pandemic, in the case of TextileSeekers there has been a tangible consequence: the creation of a magazine. “Needless to say, we are all desperate to travel again and feeling cooped up. This is partly why producing this publication has been so important to me; has given me the opportunity to travel through reading and writing, and sharing those beautiful experiences and images with others during this frustrating and tragic period of time.”
TextileSeekers Journal.
The TextileSeekers Journal has been a collaborative process in which materials, images, stories and ideas have been brought together with the common goal of sharing values and experiences. Twenty people, from photographers to writers, editors, designers... have lent their talent and knowledge to the magazine. “The result has been a beautiful and engaging collection of words and images, which initiates a series of discussions around the notion of ethical fashion, slow travel and the importance of supporting artisans and tribes. It has been a labor full of love that has been very worthwhile.” The pandemic has also allowed him to reflect on many of his values. “I have been able to contact several firms during this period and participate in debates and projects related to sustainability, tribal design and craft skills.”
Hemp weaver of the Sa Pa H'mong tribe.
SPECIFIC RETREATS FOR ARTISTS
Thao had planned to launch an artist retreat in August 2020 and had to postpone it due to COVID-19, although he hopes to resume it as soon as possible. “The artist retreat will provide an opportunity for artists and creatives from around the world to come together, explore new cultures and landscapes, and be inspired by the tribal communities of Vietnam. and his plethora of ancient skills and creative techniques. It will allow me to facilitate the meeting of some truly remarkable people and, through the art workshops in Sa Pa, there will be experiences with botanical dyes and ancient hand embroidery techniques (to name just two examples). I truly believe that the results will be extraordinary.”
In the meantime, we have already been able to enjoy some of the fruits of the creative spirit of this enterprising woman. A few months ago, the creative director and stylist Sylvia Bonet met Thao and fell in love with her initiative, based on the wisdom passed down from generation to generation, and on the desire to take travelers to the historical and cultural heart of a country. In the most difficult moments of mobility, she participated in a short film, photography and interview project that he was looking for local artists focused on slow design in linking her craft to nature and travel. This was the case of the Barcelona-based Frenchman Laurent Martin Lo (Miquel Alzueta gallery), focused on working with bamboo, an appetizer of the great creativity and conscience (also traveler) that the steps of this extraordinary woman hold for us.
The artist Laurent Martin Lo and one of his bamboo works.