If silver jewelry is the representative symbol of Miao women, then clothing represents the unique artwork of the Miao people. It is written in the Dictionary that "Miao embroidery, which represents the highest level of Miao embroidery, has been included in the list along with Xiang embroidery, Suzhou embroidery, Shu embroidery and Guangdong embroidery. Miao clothing is famous for its eye-catching colors, intricate decorations and intriguing cultural connotations. The patterns of Miao clothing carry the historical responsibility of carrying on the culture of the ethnic group, and thus have the function of expression of the written word. Due to the long history, the function of words represented by these patterns and the specific meanings they convey are also covered with mysterious colors and cannot be fully deciphered, which is also the unique charm of the Miao clothing patterns.

At the age of three or four, you pick up an embroidery needle

and make a decent hook

At the age of thirteen or fourteen, you know your way around

and begin to prepare for your wedding dress.

The full Hmong embroidery process begins with the weaving of the cloth

and continues with the opening of

the mouth, weaving, wefting, fastening, dyeing, and embroidering

the whole process

It takes 427 days to make a set of clothes

not to mention a lifetime's worth of dowry!

Bold color combinations

exaggerated and vivid patterns

symmetrical and harmonious patterns

create the ancient, refined and colorful Miao embroidery.

Under the skillful hands of Hmong girls

Hmong embroidery patterns are rich and varied

From the common ancestor of the Hmong people - “Mother Butterfly”

to the mountain veins, waves, dragons

to the primitive totem of the creation myths

maple trees, sacred animals, cows, birds, fishes, etc., etc.

Hmong embroidery is a gift for the ancestors and the gods. It's a gift to our ancestors and to the gods.

The eternal Mother Butterfly.

On the Hmong sash, there is a common pattern of butterflies with their feathers in a continuous process of reproduction. Butterflies symbolize the creation of the world, motherhood, love, protection and good fortune. In the ancient Hmong creation song, it is said that when the sky was opened, the mother butterfly fell in love with the water bubbles and gave birth to 12 eggs, from which human beings and everything in the world hatched. ...... Therefore, the mother butterfly has the meaning of eternity of life, and will not be faded by time.

Maple Tree on Hmong Sewing

The “Mother Butterfly” flies from the heart of a maple tree. Without the maple tree, there would be no Mother Butterfly, no birds, and naturally no human beings. Therefore, the maple tree is a sacred tree in the minds of the Miao people. The maple tree in Hmong embroidery often appears in cross-section, which has a rounded aesthetic and is easy to compose symmetrically with butterflies and birds.