In the Miao embroidery, the butterfly is the key, with the bird Jiwei, the legendary Miao. The dragon has been borrowed, with its symbolism, the Chinese Bestiary: Lucky, it guarantee success in any business. In the vocabulary of the Miao embroidery, it is multifaceted.
The compositions of the Miao embroidery all have an organic nature, they celebrate the ongoing transformations that combine human, plants and animals: a bird's tail turns into a scroll of flowers, grow wings on the shoulders men, fish become dragons.
In general, the embroideries are done on parts to be applied, rarely directly on the garment itself. These parts are also used as reinforcement against wear and are sewn on the sleeves, shoulders and edges jacket, the bottom of skirts and trousers.
The pinnacle of Miao embroidery is used to mark the completion of the skirt "of a hundred fold," a costume party that takes three to four years of work at a dressmaker and also for the traditional baby carrier, a sort of backpack or embroidered women carry their child.
The skill of sewing has always been transmitted from mother to daughter, and a year ago any kind of opportunity to show off her needlework. Embroidery and brocade, damask and applied all the techniques of textile decoration are made involved, transforming the garment into a unique seal and shimmer of the identity of a village.
