Hmong Story Cloths: Stitching a History

Chronicling the lives of the Hmong people of Laos, Story Cloths are vibrant and intricate needlework that developed out of refugee camps following the Vietnam War. As an alternative to written language, village women would stitch cloth at night  to document and communicate the story of their daily lives: collecting water, harvesting, transforming hemp into fabric- and also the highlights of their lives: escaping a great flood, New Year festivities, and marriage rituals. The story cloths offer an intimate view into the cultural legacy and resilience of the Hmong people.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.