Baby Carriers

In years past, the baby carrier was one way a mother demonstrated her love for her future child. The geometric patterns embroidered and woven on the baby carrier represent creatures and symbols that serve to protect the child. Due to its importance, the very finest quality of workmanship is often found on baby carriers. Some baby carriers, particularly those made by Dong minority women, have additional rectangular covers that are used to cover the child’s head from the sun and rain.

Until recent years, embroidery was never bought or sold but passed down from one generation to another. Some mothers choose not to sell their baby carriers for fear the child would come into harms way. Now that textiles have become a highly valued commodity, many families sell their textiles and keep the very finest pieces in case the family is in great need of money. Those who do decide to sell their baby carriers often choose to cut off the baby carrier straps before selling it. The straps are what physically bind a child to the mother. So, by saving these straps, many mothers believe they are preserving the emotional and physical link with their child

Traditional Dress

People from different areas wear very specific traditional clothing that identifies where they are from as well as their social status. The tradition of embroidery probably had its beginnings when peasants of a wealthy landlord embroidered clothing for the family to demonstrate the family's elevated status. Depending on the culture, the amount of silver ornaments worn by a woman also reflects the status and wealth of the family. Women, particularly young women took great pains in making their clothing. During celebrations and courting festivals, a young woman's clothing established how artistic, domestic, and diligent a worker she was. The craftsmanship of her clothes was a sign of beauty and thus very highly regarded. Consequently, some of the most delicate workmanship is found on traditional clothing. Although still seen at festivals, traditional clothing no longer holds the importance that it once did. Traditional clothing can now be bought and so does not reflect a woman's abilities. Moreover, most young people leave for the cities for work and no longer choose to learn the art of making textiles. It has become an art form for the old.

 Batik

Batik is a traditional Chinese folk art that combines painting and dyeing. It is made by dipping a special knife into melted wax and painting various patterns on white cotton or hemp cloth. The tools for applying the beeswax are made from 2 small triangular pieces of metal, their apexes bound to a bamboo holder by copper wire. The tool is held like a pen either upright or at a slant to the cloth which is laid flat. The wax often cracks after it hardens from bending the cloth. When the cloth is dyed, the color seeps into the unwaxed areas of the fabric. After the wax is boiled away, white patterns are left on the cloth. The aim is to produce a clear image with as few cracks in the image as possible.

The history of batik production in China can be traced back to the Han dynasty (206 BC- AD 220). Although this art form has been lost in many parts of China, the tradition still continues in Southwestern China. In particular, the Miao, Dong, Bouyi and Gejia hill tribes of the region continue to use this wax resist method to decorate fabrics. Wax resisted fabric was probably one the earliest forms of decoration in Guizhou. It is unknown how batiks were first invented, however the folk story from the region highlights a girl living in the stone village of Anshun, now a county in Guizhou Province.

According to legend, the girl had been sad for days because she could not find a way to decorate her skirt with flowers. One day while admiring some flowers she fell asleep. In her dream she saw a flower fairy wearing a beautiful dress. The fairy took her to see a bountiful garden bursting with flowers, birds, butterflies and bees. In her sleep, she was unaware of the many bees on her skirt. When she awoke, she saw the bees fly away.