21 Oct Journal 11. A transformative experience at the very heart of the Dong people

Last September, Marie Ferrières went on a journey to meet the Dong indigenous people, alongside her sister Pauline, the French co-founder of DEYI 德逸. Marie shares with an open heart her transformative experience in the sacred lands of the Dong people.

Having seen the DEYI 德逸 project come into being and blossom alongside my sister Pauline, I sincerely thought I had understood its full meaning and depth. However, I realize today, after spending meaningful time with the Dong people, that I was far from having grasped all that this ethical project holds at its heart. 

Before embarking on this journey, I thought I was well aware of the project’s purpose: supporting the Dong people’s disappearing textile heritage; providing fair and equitable remuneration for the indigenous women who keep these traditions alive in the villages; and promoting new ways of consuming that are more ethical, more responsible and in harmony with Nature. But having experienced this project in my soul, living among Dong women, has given me a whole new perception of DEYI 德逸. This journey allowed me to lift the invisible veil on the depth and strength of this project.

Today, I find it quite difficult to express in words the depth of this life-changing journey where I met the Dong people through the Way of the Heart. Indeed, it appears to me that language cannot convey the power of these encounters and the inner transformation they have produced within me. This truth is inscribed in the Soul and the Heart, and I firmly believe that this is why DEYI 德逸 is so difficult to explain and understand fully, without having had the opportunity to experience it within oneself. However, to share with you a fragment of the power of this journey, I will focus on several words that resonated with me in an unprecedented way during this experience.

Marie exploring Zengying Dong village. Photography by Noémie Kadaner

First, “Authenticity”

One of the things I deeply value about this experience is the authenticity of the journey. I was deeply moved by the heartfelt kindness and purity emanating from all our interactions with the Dong people. No artifice. A raw authenticity that touched our hearts. These encounters, shared glances and laughs, are engraved in my heart for eternity. Among these encounters, I wanted to write a few words about Yang Yi, a brilliant Dong indigenous woman who coordinates the cooperative of craftswomen with love and pride. She appeared to me like a ray of sunshine gently coming through the window to warm and soothe our hearts in winter. With all her passion, she opened the door of her sacred sanctuary to help us discover the richness and beauty of Dong culture, which she honors and protects every day. Thanks to her, I truly had the profound sensation of grasping Dong culture intimately and so authentically.

From left to right: Yang Yi, Marie & Amélie at the workshop. Photography by Noémie Kadaner

Then, “Holistic”

Before moving to Guizhou, I often heard my sister use this word to describe DEYI 德逸, without really understanding what it meant. There, I finally grasped its significance and its relevance when talking about this project. The word describes the circular, cyclical energy that essentially feeds the DEYI 德逸 project and deeply infuses the Dong culture. In particular, I came to understand the holistic nature of the project by witnessing every stage of the fabric-making process (from cotton plant to weaving, from indigo leaf to dyeing…), and by discovering the strong sense of community and mutual aid forged between the individuals composing the Dong people. Through a DEYI 德逸 fabric, we touch the history, traditions, and values of solidarity of an entire people.

A Dong indigenous artisan crafting a traditional glazed fabric dyed with indigo and yam in Zengying village. Photography by Noémie Kadaner

Finally, the character “Yi 逸” from DEYI 德逸. 

Reading these few lines, one might think that I had spent several weeks or even months in Guizhou. The truth is that I only spent four days with the Dong women. However, I experienced a whole new perception of time: for the first time, I truly felt as if I were living “out of time”. But rather than living “out of time”, it was about living fully within the time, honoring the present moment. Far from the capitalist demands of extreme productivity and speed, I lived to the rhythm of Nature, to the rhythm of the weaving looms, to the rhythm of the indigo baths, to the rhythm of Dong songs… These four days far from capitalism and individualism, seeming to last for weeks, nourished me deeply: living in the heart of the Dong people in full harmony with Nature warmed my Heart and soothed my Soul. Through this experience, I intimately grasped all the power and gentleness implied by the Yi 逸 character, so beautifully characterizing the way of life and philosophy of the Dong people.

Lastly, when I close my eyes to visualize this experience, I see a little gemstone or a brilliant shell glittering with a thousand lights. Placed in the palm of our hands, all we want to do is protect and cherish this treasure for eternity. I would like to thank Pauline, Zhang Xing and Yang Yi for allowing me to experience, in the depths of my soul, a fragment of this sacred treasure. Now, I intimately understand the power and profound meaning of the DEYI 德逸 project.

Portrait of Marie in our indigo-dye workshop. Photography by Pauline Ferrières

Article written by Marie Ferrières

Cover picture by Noémie Kadaner