This elaborate cotton head cloth is part of a set of garments comprising a jacket and trousers worn by the women of Lolo, a highland community in North Vietnam, known as Flower Lolo (Rong Me). The black head cloth is folded and wrapped around the head like a wide headband. It is tie-dyed with floral and geometric motifs, embroidered and appliquéd with bright fabrics. The beaded tassels are decorated with plastic buttons, glass and bone beads and colourful pompoms. The Lolo are Tibeto-Burman language speakers who live in settled villages, farm wet rice and raise cattle. Ancestor worship is predominant and ancient head-hunting rites are still observed at funerals.
