Lao PDR - Ethnic minorities - Boiling indigo dyed cotton fabric in Mak Bao to fix the colour in a Iu Mien (Yao) village

Boiling indigo dyed cotton fabric in Mak Bao (a trailing forest fruit) to fix the colour in Ban Hom Phan, a Iu Mien village in Houaphan province, Lao PDR. The cotton fabric is purchased from a nearby Tai Deng village and after dyeing the fabric many times to build up the colour it is sold to local Iu Mien women to make their traditional clothing. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.

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Filename: A0026981cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x2999 / 2.3MB; Asia Lao Lao PDR Laos PDR Southeast Southeast Asia Tessa Bunney countryside ethnic life minorities minority remote rural fibre fiber fabric cloth material Yao Iu Mien Iu Mien cotton traditional clothing costume mountainous textiles woman female hill tribe tribes heritage culture clothes Houaphan province village indigo dye dyed dyeing blue colour mak bao mak bao fruit forest steam hot business
Contained in galleries: Tessa Bunney - All pics, Lao PDR - Rural life still life

Boiling indigo dyed cotton fabric in Mak Bao (a trailing forest fruit) to fix the colour in Ban Hom Phan, a Iu Mien village in Houaphan province, Lao PDR. The cotton fabric is purchased from a nearby Tai Deng village and after dyeing the fabric many times to build up the colour it is sold to local Iu Mien women to make their traditional clothing. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.