Cancelled - A Cloth Story: The History of Hmong People Through Textile

This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.  We will reschedule as soon as possible.

In this hands-on course, participants will get an up close exploration of Hmong history through the textiles used to create Hmong clothing. With vintage and antique pieces dating back to the 1950s to more current pieces from the 1980s, we’ll follow the refugee journey from deep within the jungles of Laos, beyond the Secret War through to the refugee camps in Thailand, to resettlement in America. Each piece of clothing presented will be dissected to explain origin, why certain fabrics were used, and their historical significance. We will also dive into technique, how to differentiate between handmade and machine-made, and how to identify tribes and clans through their textiles.

Mai Tia Yang is a local textile expert on Hmong embroidery, story cloths, textiles, and clothing. Her expertise comes from three decades of collecting rare and vintage Hmong textiles.

More events in this series:

• 1/22 Hmong Diaspora Exhibit: Opening Reception
• 1/29 Hmong Diaspora: A Spotlight Collection Exhibit Guided Tour
• 2/7 Exploration of the Hmong Folklore Dab Pog and Xwb Kab: The Origin of Hmong Spiritual Beliefs
• 2/19 Hmong Diaspora: A Spotlight Collection Exhibit Guided Tour