February 17, 2007

Textile Gifts

My boss just came back from a trip to Vietnam. She brought back some really special textiles for me. Their outfits are so elaborate and colorful. Very exciting! The long piece is used as a belt or wrapped around their legs, it is hand embroidered. The background piece is used as a skirt over other clothing. It has a multitude of trims and rickrack sewed down. The indigo pieces would probably be used as insets of a blouse. They are hand embroidered.
My friend, Isabel, lived in Guatemala for several years and collected a lot of hand woven fabric. It is hand dyed on the side of the road and then woven by the same woman on a loom that is attached to her body. It is so perfectly done, it is difficult to believe it is hand made!

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