Lao PDR - Ethnic minorities - Hemp yarn is pounded in a large wooden mortar to soften it in a Hmong village

After harvesting and the bark has been peeled off in long thin lengths, the hemp yarn is pounded in a large wooden mortar to soften it, Ban Long Kuang, Houaphan province, Lao PDR. 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.

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Filename: A0026915cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x2999 / 1.6MB; Asia Lao Lao PDR Laos PDR Tessa Bunney countryside ethnic life minorities minority remote rural hemp cannabis sativa plant fibre fiber fabric plants Hmong village Houaphan province isolated textiles man male work working pound pounding soften softening wooden mortar
Contained in galleries: Lao PDR - Hemp, Tessa Bunney - All pics

After harvesting and the bark has been peeled off in long thin lengths, the hemp yarn is pounded in a large wooden mortar to soften it, Ban Long Kuang, Houaphan province, Lao PDR. 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.