Children Costumes and Baby Carriers of Southwest China

Mothers also design bibs and pinafores for their babies so that they cannot wet their clothes, Baby bibs are diverse in type, Miao women in Taijiang, Guizhou Province like to make circular and petal-shaped bibs, On them, vivid patterns of bird, flower, dragon and butterfly are embroidered. Pinafores made by Dong women in Congjiang, Guizhou Province are composed of two parts, circular one and rectangular one, with smart designs, useful functions, beautiful patterns and plain and elegant colors.

Crest-shaped cap for baby girl with flower design, Yi ethnic group, Chuxiong, Yunnan Province

The waistcoat falls into three types, single layer, double layer and cotton-made, A double-layer waistcoat for male baby, embroidered by a Tujian woman from Longshan, Hunan Province, is exquisitely made with fine workmanship. Candidate figures winning the title of No, 1 Scholar in the imperial examination are embroidered on the front and back sides of the waistcoat, expressing the mother's expectation for her baby.

Baby shoes embroidered by Dong women from Qiubei, Yunnan Province, Jingxi, Guangxi Autonomous Region and Congjiang, Guizhou Province are finely made, soft and comfortable, These baby shoes are in various types, including butterfly-shaped, cat-shaped and tiger-shaped ones. Patterns embroidered on them include peony blossoms, chrysanthemum, pomegranate, butterfly and fish dragon, Little embroidered shoes will be given to the baby from the mother's family when she or he celebrates her or his 100th days of birth.

Shoes for baby girl with dragon and pearl design, Dong ethnic group, Congjiang, Guizhou Province

Children costumes and baby carriers feature sophisticated embroidery processes and diverse embroider/ skills, some of which are quite time-consuming. Cultural implications that they bear are profound and rich. More than 20 ethnic groups dwell in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and each ethnic group has unique and rich traditions, religious beliefs, totem worship and history of their own, Embroidered dresses and baby carriers embroidered by their women have been handed down from one generation to another, carrying forward their history and culture.

By  Yi E

Editor: Feng Hui