Horsetail hair embroidery, the unique craft of the Sui people of China

Horsetail hair embroidery, source

Every ethnic group of China has its own unique way of designing and adorning their costumes and textiles. An ethnic minority of the Sui (Shui) counts just about 400 thousand people. For centuries a special traditional type of embroidery has been kept alive by the Sui women. This unique kind of embroidery uses horsetail hair for the needlework.

Dudou, the artistic underwear of medieval China

"Red Underwear", a painting by Liushi Zong  source

What do you think the young lady on the painting above is wearing? As the painting's title suggests it is an underwear. But what kind of? Actually it is a dudou. The garment with such unusually-sounding name has a long history. It was invented by the Chinese somewhen in the 17th century with the sole practical purpose to keep the chest and stomach area warm. It is just a square or rhomboidal piece of cloth with attached straps that were tied around the neck and at the back. The dudou often has a pocket where ginger, musk or other medicinal herbs believed to keep the belly warm were put. It was worn by children, women and men alike to prevent not only cold but, according to some sources, diarrhea as well.

Qipao, the evergreen classic

Today is the Chinese New Year. And I thought it was a good time to show off my cheongsam/qipao and to tell you about this beautiful Chinese dress. Like Kungfu, Beijing opera, and acupuncture, the qipao is an instantly recognizable symbol of Chinese culture.
The Mandarin word "qipao" means "banner robe" and it was used to describe the long dress worn by women belonging to the Eight Banners (clans) of Manchu. It was a long A-shaped, loosely fitted and squarely cut silk brocade robe adorned with different embroidered motifs that reflected the status, position or title of the wearer.

Traditional headdresses of the Miao women of China

The Miao, also known as the Hmong, are one of the most numerous ethnic minorities in China. However, the largest communities are found in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Their traditional dress varies from community to community. Clothes vary in their style, patterns, colour, ornamentation and accessories so than, according to some experts, between 23 and 80 local styles might exist.
Women in some groups have really striking headdresses, as for example, the Long-Horned Miao women. They wrap lots of artificial "hair" (long black threads of yarn) around the horn-shaped piece of wood making extremely huge wig and finish with decorating it with long strips of fabric. Their unusual name comes from this custom of adding a horn to their hair.

photo cortesy Spenser