Vintage Embroidered Jacket from the Akha of North Thailand, mid-20th century. Handspun and handwoven indigo dyed cotton with brightly colored cotton embroidery. This is a women’s jacket from the Akha, an important minority group of people originally from Yunnan, who migrated into Thailand mostly since the end of the Second World War. They are primarily agriculturalists, with villages in the highlands of northern Thailand. The preparation and work involved in the creation of their colorful clothing comprises an important part of daily village life, from the planting and gathering of cotton to seeding, spinning and weaving, and finally embroidery work...