Title
Tunic
Year/Period
Mid 20th century, c.1960s
Region
Northern Thailand
Dimension
Object size: 112 x 122 cm
Accession No.
1993-01231
Collection of
The Lahu Na woman's tunic is made from home-spun indigo-dyed cloth, finished with appliquéd bands and decorated with silver buttons and dangling pieces. It is fastened with floral-shaped silver buckles and is worn with a black sarong and turban for festivals.Thought to have orginated from China, the Lahu, migrated from Burma and Laos into northern Thailand. There are several sub-groups of Lahu in Thailand, including the Black Lahu (Lahu Na), Red Lahu (Lahu Nyi) and Yellow Lahu (Lahu Shi). The origins of the colour distinctions are not clear, and not every group can be identified by the colour of their dress.
