Silver Chinese
Handmade Chinese Miao clothes: A history book worn on the body
Who are the Miao?
Over 100 distinctive Miao ethnic groups inhabit the mountainous south and southwestern China. Every group is distinguished by its different costume, and the beautiful women’s clothes are exceptionally fascinating. Embroidery, batik, and beautiful silver jewelry are all indispensable additions to Miao style.
Clothes for the holidays
During holidays, weddings, and other large ceremonies, Miao women usually wear a short jacket with beautiful, embroidered patterns on the narrow sleeves, shoulders, and collar. In some areas, their jackets are characterized by the sparkling silver pieces sewed everywhere. So it has a name: silver jacket.
Their beautiful pleated skirts have as many as 40 layers with over 500 pleats. In some areas, women’s long skirt reaches directly to their feet. Their short skirt stops at the knees.
An embroidered apron dropping in front of the skirt also comes to the knees or feet. Four or five long waistbands fly behind the apron, like a peacock’s colorful tail feathers. To some women, leggings and embroidered shoes are beautiful accessory to their luxuriant costume.
With extraordinary silver ornaments, like big silver headdress, neckbands, earrings, and silver bracelets to go with these clothes, many Miao women can proudly claim they are the most beautiful women in the world.
There are usually five colors used in Miao clothes: black, white, blue, red, and yellow. Miao women make many of their clothes themselves by weaving, dying, sewing, and embroidering.
Casual suits
Miao casual suits look simple and light, but they are still very beautiful. Aprons, jackets, and shirts are all characterized by the intricate embroidered designs.
On informal occasions, Miao women wear an embroidered handkerchief on their head instead of the heavy silver headdress that’s worn during the holidays.
Embroidery
Girls start to learn how to embroider from their mother when they are only seven or eight years old. By the time they’re 14 or 15, each girl has become a skilled embroiderer. Before they are ready to be married, they will spend 3 to 5 years making themselves a suit of embroidered garments to act as a dowry.
Their mysterious culture, religion and long history can be read on the beautiful embroidery. Water waves, mountains, stars, butterflies, dragons, birds, flowers, and animals are themes that have lasted throughout the centuries.
With no historical scripts for thousands of years, the Miao remember their history on their embroidered costume.You can read many old stories in the embroidered patterns that have been handed down for years. Yes, almost every embroidered piece has a beautiful story.
Batik
Techniques for making batik, a durable cloth with remarkable colors and designs, have been around for more than 1,000 years.
First, an artist will make a design on a sheet of white cloth with a knife dipped in hot wax. Then five various colors are used to dye the cloth in a big vat. They will rinse and boil the cloth after dyeing it.
Chinese Miao batik art is quite interesting and unique. C. Liu has been studying and researching Miao culture and art for a few years. Go to her website to learn more about Miao batick and other fascinating arts like beautiful Miao silver ornaments.
Silver Update 8/23/11 – Chinese Chess