This collar is typical of the colourful accessories that are an important part of Hmong womens' cultural identity. It is decorated with a geometric design that combines cross-stitch and appliqué using colourful commercial fabrics and thread. The collar was sewn onto the back of the neckline of a jacket. The Hmong were originally highlanders from southern China although their origin myths speak of a land of snow and ice, which suggest their ancestors probably came from further north in Mongolia, Tibet or even Lappland. Periodic suppression by the Chinese meant continued migration over the centuries. By the mid 19th century, the Hmong had begun to move into northern areas of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Regional warfare in recent years has resulted in the resettlement of many Hmong communities and cultural adaptation has become an important attribute whether in the co-existence of ancestor worship and Christianity, or the re-created embroidery designs of Hmong women, many of whom now live in America.
