Lao PDR - Ethnic minorities - A Hmong woman twisting lengths of hemp bark to form one long yarn

An elderly blind Hmong woman twisting lengths of hemp bark together to form one long yarn, Ban Tatong, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR. The yarn is wrapped around the hand in a figure of 8 creating a ball shape. Making hemp fabric is a long and laborious process; the end result is a strong durable cloth with qualities similar to linen which the Hmong women use to make their traditional clothing. In Lao PDR, hemp is now only cultivated in remote mountainous areas of the north. The remote and roadless village of Ban Tatong is situated along the Nam Kang river (an offshoot of the Nam Ou) and will be relocated due to the construction of the Nam Ou Cascade Hydropower Project Dam 7.

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Filename: A0026666cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x2999 / 1.5MB; 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 Lai Hmong Lai traditional clothing costume mountainous textiles durable woman female hill tribe tribes heritage laborious process processing Ban Tatong Nam Ou elderly blind twist twisting splice splicing bark
Contained in galleries: Lao PDR - Nam Ou River, Tessa Bunney - All pics

An elderly blind Hmong woman twisting lengths of hemp bark together to form one long yarn, Ban Tatong, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR. The yarn is wrapped around the hand in a figure of 8 creating a ball shape. Making hemp fabric is a long and laborious process; the end result is a strong durable cloth with qualities similar to linen which the Hmong women use to make their traditional clothing. In Lao PDR, hemp is now only cultivated in remote mountainous areas of the north. The remote and roadless village of Ban Tatong is situated along the Nam Kang river (an offshoot of the Nam Ou) and will be relocated due to the construction of the Nam Ou Cascade Hydropower Project Dam 7.