Thailand
Mid-20th century
Cotton, wool, embroidery
The Yao (Mien) women are known for their fine embroidery, which they use to decorate their apparel, such as caps for their babies and small children. The bright colors and pompoms are intended to make the child resemble a flower, in order to fool evil spirits that might bring harm. The caps are worn by children until they reach the age of nine or ten. Girls are taught to embroider at a very young age, and then dedicate their skills to embellishing their own clothing.