{"id":1997,"date":"2026-04-30T12:26:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipasfund.org\/?p=1997"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:26:43","slug":"reviving-hmong-batik-in-baan-suan-sai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipasfund.org\/km\/reviving-hmong-batik-in-baan-suan-sai\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviving Hmong Batik in Baan Suan Sai"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Baan Suan Sai village in Nan Province, Hmong batik used to be part of daily life. Women learned it when they were young, sitting beside their mothers and grandmothers, drawing patterns with wax and dyeing fabric with indigo. It was both a skill and a way to express their identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poo Hwa Seur, now nearly 80 years old, remembers those days clearly. She began making batik at the age of 14. At that time, it was her main source of income. She worked long hours, often day and night, to support her children\u2019s education. Even though the income was small, the work was steady and meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, she no longer makes batik. Like many others in the village, she stopped years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The elders stepped back into a skill untouched for years, awakening stories held in their hands. Photo by: HNT
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Batik is Disappearing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, things began to change. In the market, stamped batik became more common. It is faster to produce and cheaper to sell. Compared to this, hand-drawn batik takes much more time and effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people in the community found that they could no longer rely on it for income. Some turned to farming, while others looked for different kinds of work that offered more stability. At the same time, younger people started leaving the village for school or jobs in the city. Fewer of them were interested in learning batik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gradually, the practice became less common, and the knowledge was not passed on as before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting Again<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, an initiative by Hmong Nhia Tshua created an opportunity to bring people together again. Community members gathered to relearn Hmong batik. Some were trying it for the first time, while others were returning to a skill they had not practiced for many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They started with the basics\u2014preparing tools, drawing simple patterns, and learning how to use the wax pen. At first, it was not easy. The wax did not always flow smoothly, and the lines were often uneven. It took time to get used to the process again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trainers were elders with deep knowledge, but explaining each step clearly was sometimes challenging. Even so, people continued practicing, helping each other, and slowly improving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n