W370xH300mm, China
This shoulder bag is from the Bai tribe of China.
Composed of embroidery, patchwork, though colourful has a beige handwoven cloth as the base for the bag.
White is the colour for the Bai tribe (Bai meaning white), they based their costume on this colour, the noblest of colour.
W450xL700mm, China
This costume belonged to the Sanjiang Dong Tribe of the Guangxi area.
The garment is made with handwoven fabric with brocade trimming around the collar and placket, a decorative embroidery trimming is added to the bottom of the jacket. It would be worn as an opened jacket revealing the embroidered du dou that is worn underneath.
Waist 430mm, Hong Kong
A waist coat we have designed with a piece of brocade from the Miao tribe. In traditional Miao costume, its normally found as a decoration for collars, sleeves, as well as for baby carriers.
For needle brocade, the technique used for this fabric please fwd to 9m20s.
W85xD70xH200mm, Hong Kong
This is an effigy of a elder female ancestor of the Tanka tribe. These ancestor figurines were kept at the boats of the Tanka fisherman offering them safety at sea.
Click here to see our other junk boat gods.
W150xD60xH240mm, Malaysia
This mask belongs to the Mah Meri tribe. Mah Meri means “People Forest”, they believes that all mythological characters are supreme and that ancestral spirits use plants and animals to make food for humans.
The Jo-Oh masks are said to give spiritual power to the wearer during dance rituals, representing the soul of the ancestors.
L600mm, China
A wrapped around skirt of the Miao tribe.
The Miao tribe made their own costume, fabric from scratch.
Starting from the plant, making threads, weaving, wax resist painting, dyeing, making a costume.
Please watch this amazing documentary about the Miao and the hemp, it is a million time better than I can describe in words.
W820xL130mm, China
This is a section of a patchwork from the Miao tribe. I find the creatures on the patchwork processing a lot charm, as this is handmade even if they are the same kind, are different. This simple beauty is already hard to find in the digital age.
On this patchwork there are flowers, butterfly, fish, birds and dragons. The Miao believes that creatures are interchangeable; a man can become a dragon and vice versa, fish butterfly, flowers and bird can also turn into dragon. Recorded in one of the ancient songs, the butterfly has 12 sons, they had a fight and the water dragon was chased away. He escaped through the waterways and into the ocean, then he realised he has forgotten to bring his money! The fish surrounded his and offered him the money and he was able to become the king of the ocean. There used to be a lot of these ancient songs which get passed down by mouth through generations, sadly only 12 songs were left.
DIA140mm, China
This neckware is an assemblage of different accessories found on the Miao tribal costume. The lower part of the neckware can be taken off for a different look.
The Miao’s jewellery has always been a collector’s item. This new design made the Miao accessories more wearable with today’s fashion.
Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection
Textile Width 450mm, China
Fancy a striped shirt made with hand woven cloth?
Before that some stripes illusion.
W700xH1400mm, China
This costume belonged to the wizard of the minority Dong tribe. In the villages of Guang Xi area, each village will have their own wizard, whom like Harry Potter are passed down from generations of wizards. The wizard would make offering to the gods as well as casting away the evil ghosts. Life in the villages are harsh, whenever sickness or other misfortune fell on a family, they would asked the wizard to see if the place needed cleansing.
Mountain Folkcraft 