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Infusing traditional elements into handcrafted products.
Starting from a background neither in business nor design, Tran Doan Hung, the founder of the Comay Craft handcrafted handbag brand, embarked on a journey across craft villages nationwide to learn the craft, utilize local labor and materials, and create incredibly unique handcrafted handbags. The artisans all come from craft villages in Thanh Hoa, and the materials originate from renowned regions such as Nga Son sedge in Thanh Hoa, rattan from Thai Binh, water hyacinth, and sedge grass from the Mekong Delta…
Mr. Tran Doan Hung - founder of the handcrafted handbag brand Comay Craft
Having grown up surrounded by nature and hailing from the famous Nga Son mat-weaving village, Doan Hung had never seen bags like these in his own craft village. He observed that most tourists preferred carrying woven bamboo and rattan bags, but Vietnam lacked a truly high-end handcrafted bag brand; most were simply subcontractors for large international brands. This motivated him to build the Comay Craft brand to contribute to and preserve the traditional heritage of Nga Son, Thanh Hoa.
The name Comay means "May flower." The May flower is closely associated with Doan Hung's childhood and the land where he was born and raised. The pale purple May flower symbolizes loyalty, unwavering will, strength, and unyielding hope. He also wants to use the image of the May flower to honor the simple beauty and dedication of Vietnamese women, and Comay Craft's designs are created based on these criteria.
The idea behind creating handcrafted handbag designs is inspired by nature, or by the vases and baskets of shrimp and prawns from the past.
From its early days, Comay Craft built its brand on just two words: "love." This love stems from the founder's love for her homeland, its traditional culture, and its traditional crafts. It is this love that permeates each bag, beautiful in every detail, beautiful in the respect and care shown towards each customer.
“The idea behind creating handcrafted handbag designs is inspired by nature, or by the vases and baskets of shrimp and prawns from the past… Comay Craft focuses on minimalist design while still exuding elegance and sophistication, combining various materials to enhance the aesthetic appeal of each product. In addition, the handbags maintain their practicality for everyday use in various contexts such as work, leisure, events, exhibitions, and even diplomatic occasions. For me, creating a product with a unique touch is about simplicity and naturalness; the simpler it is, the harder it is to create,” shared Doan Hung.
Comay Craft primarily uses natural fibers from water hyacinth and sedge. These two types of fibers offer high versatility, allowing for the creation of various knitting styles and shapes. Comay Craft carefully researches and processes these materials to ensure colorfastness and resistance to mold and mildew.
The main materials used for handmade bags are natural fibers from water hyacinth and sedge grass.
As society develops, fewer people choose handmade handbags for work or events. Woven rattan and bamboo bags are mostly found only in the summer or in tourist areas, especially in coastal cities, with rather monotonous designs. Therefore, Comay Craft uses a combination of natural, environmentally friendly materials while still ensuring the necessary criteria of aesthetics, elegance, practicality, and durability for a bag suitable for various occasions, meeting the needs of busy urban women.
Each product created by Comay Craft not only offers handcrafted bags that add a unique touch but also aims to change consumer perceptions and habits regarding handcrafted products.
Using traditional materials, these handcrafted bags still exude elegance, meeting the needs of busy city women.
Traditional crafts amidst market saturation
“When I returned to my hometown to start this entrepreneurial journey, I faced many difficulties such as: lack of finances, limited experience in handicrafts, and insufficient formal business training. With only 10 million VND borrowed from my sister to start, I just thought that if I had to persevere every day, even without money, I had to have passion and great ambitions. Difficulties and challenges always go hand in hand on my path. However, if you understand the laws of nature, you will see them as very normal, calmly handle them, and find ways to overcome the difficulties,” said Doan Hung.
Amidst intense competition from imported brands, Vietnamese brands continue to win the hearts of many domestic consumers. Doing business on modern platforms like e-commerce is also a significant step forward in two aspects: revenue generation and the preservation of traditional values.
Despite the wave of competition from imported brands, Vietnamese brands still win the hearts of most domestic consumers.
Mr. Tran Doan Hung commented: “I see that the market for handcrafted handbags in Vietnam is gradually developing much better than in previous years, so it's not surprising to see handcrafted bags from other countries or international brands appearing in the Vietnamese market. The market is a shared market, and Comay Craft's direction remains focused on the simple things from our rural villages. We introduce the beauty of rural culture and the simplicity of hardworking women preserving traditional crafts. We tell a true story, showcasing real products from artisans to create real value for customers and the surrounding environment.”
