Lao PDR - Rural life - A Hmong woman decorating hemp fabric by batik, a wax resist technique

Nan Ya, a Hmong Leng ethnic minority woman decorates the woven hemp fabric by batik, a wax resist technique, Thien Pha, Houaphan province, Lao PDR. Bees’ wax is collected from the forest, heated in small metal pots and mixed with indigo paste (which colours the wax and makes it easier to see on the cloth). A bamboo pen with a metal nib is used for drawing the wax onto the hemp. The wax marks will resist the dye when the cloth is dipped in the indigo dye bath and left to dry. After the last dye bath has been completed, the cloth is boiled to remove the wax. The resulting fabric is an indigo blue colour with white designs and is the base for cotton applique and colourful embroidery. Making hemp fabric is a long and laborious process which the Hmong women make into skirts for their traditional clothing. In Lao PDR, hemp is now only cultivated in remote mountainous areas of the north.

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Filename: A0021474cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 2828x2120 / 551.2KB; Asia Lao Lao PDR Laos PDR Southeast Southeast Asia Tessa Bunney countryside ethnic ethnic minorities life minorities minority remote rural Hemp cannabis sativa cannabis sativa plant fibre fiber fabric cloth material Hmong Du Hmong Du skirt skirts traditional clothing costume mountainous textiles durable woman female hill tribe tribes heritage laborious process processing weaving weave batik wax resist technique appliqué embroidery indigo dye dyed natural hand-woven woven concentration
Contained in galleries: Lao PDR - Hemp

Nan Ya, a Hmong Leng ethnic minority woman decorates the woven hemp fabric by batik, a wax resist technique, Thien Pha, Houaphan province, Lao PDR. Bees’ wax is collected from the forest, heated in small metal pots and mixed with indigo paste (which colours the wax and makes it easier to see on the cloth). A bamboo pen with a metal nib is used for drawing the wax onto the hemp. The wax marks will resist the dye when the cloth is dipped in the indigo dye bath and left to dry. After the last dye bath has been completed, the cloth is boiled to remove the wax. The resulting fabric is an indigo blue colour with white designs and is the base for cotton applique and colourful embroidery. Making hemp fabric is a long and laborious process which the Hmong women make into skirts for their traditional clothing. In Lao PDR, hemp is now only cultivated in remote mountainous areas of the north.