Karen girls wear simple long, white cotton outfits. Girls learn to make their own dresses at the age of ten. As they grow older, more colour and ornate designs are added. A Karen bride changes from her dress into a blouse and skirt during her marriage to signify her new status. Her husband wears old clothes for the marriage and after a ritual dowsing with water, she presents a newly woven shirt to him.The Karen is the largest tribal group in Thailand comprising two main divisions (the Sgaw and Pwo) and smaller sub-groups. Originally thought to have come from Tibet, they migrated into Thailand from Burma during the 18th century.
