Mission of Connection: Celebrating the Moon Festival with Maries at the Pho Trach HandiCraft Village in Hue

Another year, another opportunity for Maries to join forces with the leadership of Dong My village to bring a meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival to the children of the over 500-year-old traditional craft village in Hue. Together, we created unforgettable moments as the moonlight illuminated the village paths, blending with the children’s laughter and the strong bonds within the craft village community.

Meeting the Artisans: Guardians of Traditional Craftsmanship

This year’s Mid-Autumn event was not only a time to give gifts to the children but also a chance for Maries to reconnect with and express gratitude to the artisans who have been dedicated to the craft of weaving Lepironia grass. Their skilled hands tend the fields, harvest the grass, and meticulously weave high-quality mats. The craft of Lepironia mat weaving in Dong My is not just a simple handicraft; it embodies the hard work and long-standing tradition of the village.

Pho Trach craft village, despite facing the challenges of daily life, has preserved the cultural values passed down by previous generations. Witnessing the artisans’ ongoing partnership with Maries, we deeply appreciate the trust and hope we’ve built together. Their calloused hands, weathered by work but skillful in creating beautiful products from Lepironia, stand as a testament to the enduring strength of these people.

This marks our second Mid-Autumn celebration in Dong My, a village facing poverty and frequent flooding, where the craft of Lepironia mat weaving endures. The villagers grow Lepironia grass, tend the fields across many seasons, harvest, dry, and store it for the year. They then craft mats to sell at the market—a laborious job that not everyone can do, and the income is often unstable.

Since 2020, we have been steering towards developing a green fashion industry. We began purchasing raw materials, designing, producing, and finding markets for the products, continuously innovating to meet customer tastes, all under the Maries brand.

There have been many discussions—some disagreements, some compromises, and much encouragement. These were born out of the generational gap, differences in living environments, and the tension between the young generation’s adaptability and creativity versus the older generation’s reluctance to change and attachment to tradition. Yet, we have always come together like family, despite not sharing blood. The Mid-Autumn Festival, known as the “Festival of Reunion,” has allowed us to create value together, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable rural development. Additionally, we’ve been working on plans to pass down the craft to future generations.

With our support, they have confidently registered to expand their lepironia growing areas, preparing for market expansion.

With us, they believe that their traditional craft now has a stable market.

With us, they trust in a business that doesn’t make empty promises but instead is committed to realizing their dreams step by step.

And naturally, we are not a charity organization. We are a business committed to creating profit with a focus on sustainable development, making a social impact, and being responsible to the community.

The smiles of the elders and the hopeful eyes of the children keep us motivated, helping us push through and never give up.

A Night of “Moon Parade” with the Children of Dong My

This year, Maries organized a special “Moon Parade” night for the children of Dong My. Under the warm glow of lanterns, the children’s laughter echoed throughout the village streets. The vibrant lanterns and the songs of the Mid-Autumn Festival brought back childhood memories not only for the kids but also for the adults.

Held in a village with a 500-year-old lepironia mat tradition, the evening carried special significance. It was not just a festive occasion, but a reminder of the importance of unity and perseverance in preserving local cultural traditions. The children of Dong My enjoyed a joyful evening, receiving gifts, sharing treats, and most importantly, feeling the love and support from their community.

>> Read more: Maries Story | Lepironia Grass, Amazing Journey

Unforgettable Moments

This year’s Mid-Autumn night was more than just a celebration; it marked another year of Maries’ journey to connect communities and preserve cultural heritage. Seeing the bright smiles on the children’s faces and the joyful eyes of the artisans reaffirmed that we are on the right path.

This event would not have been possible without the support of village leaders and the enthusiastic participation of the craft village residents. Thanks to the solidarity and love shared among everyone, this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival was truly warm and complete.

Creating Sustainable Value Together

Looking back at the beautiful moments of the Mid-Autumn event in the Lepironia mat village, Maries is even more convinced that we have chosen the right path: sustainable development deeply rooted in the community. We not only aim to produce environmentally friendly fashion but also to bring stability, trust, and hope to those involved in traditional crafts.

The Dong My village—with its over 500-year-old Lepironia weaving tradition—stands as a vivid example of the resilience and vitality of Vietnamese culture. We are proud to be part of the journey to preserve and develop this traditional craft.

If you haven’t seen or tried our products, please visit our workshop and showroom to support our journey at:

54A Chu Văn An – Hue City.
Hotline: 0935115215
Madebymaries.com