This long textile is known as 'phaa phan hua' or head cloth. The cotton cloth made of indigo-dyed plain weave is embroidered with cross-stitch using silk yarns. This type of head cloth was worn by Yao (Mien) women.The Mien or Yao as they are often called, probably lived in southern China about 2,000 years ago. They used to write in Chinese and speak a language derived from the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. The Yao migrated during the mid 19th century from Laos to Thailand.
