Akha jackets and tube tops
Shan State, Myanmar / Luang Namtha Province, Laos
Akha women use all four types of seeds with variation in the shape and size for decorating many articles of costume. For making a special jacket for wedding ceremonies, they select uniform grain-sized, pure white, completely unblemished seeds to stitch them on the backside of the jacket with skillful combinations of patchwork and embroidery. Further, they also make unique hanging decorations with the seeds. They break the bottle shaped seeds into two cup-shaped pieces, which they link in an overlapping scale-like pattern to create a chain.
Details on jacket to left:
Details on jacket to the right:
