The Kachin People
Kachin State is Burma's northernmost province, and
it is crowned by the country's highest mountain, Hkakabo Razi, which stands at
the edge of the Himalyas and towers to a height of 5,889 meters (19,321 ft). A
trip to Hkakabo Razi is only possible with a state-appointed guide, and it
takes visitors weeks on foot, along virtually untrodden paths and through thick
jungle. Then they catch their first glimpse of the snow-covered foothills of
the Himalayas.
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| Hkakabo Razi
The Jingpho or Kachin people are a South East
Asian ethnic group who inhabit the Kachin Hills in northern Burma's Kachin
State.
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Different ethnic sub-groups belong to the Kachin tribe
including the Jinghpaw, Maru, Lashi, Atsi. These are linguistic rather than
national distinctions. Each groups dress is colorful but the individual tribes
clothing is distinctive and their dialects also differ.
The Kachin textiles are woven on backstrap looms and have
predominantly geometric patterns. The women’s skirts are usually comprised of
three narrow bands and these wrap skirts can take months to weave. When
learning to weave, the woman first masters the “mother pattern” which runs in
supplementary weft down each vertical end of the finished cloth. The patterns
vary between sub groups.
For contemporary Kachin people these textiles remain a visible symbol of their cultural identity and history.
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| Photo credit http://www.tribaltrappings.com/ |
“As a Kachin
person, I believe that cultural heritage is one of the most valuable things we
have. As a community struggling in the midst of political instability and
uncertainty, culture offers a constructive tool for building Kachin identity.
Even such a regular routine such as weaving clothing at home can be considered
an important form of heritage and culture“
*Gumring: a member of the Kachin ethnic
community of Burma.
Siamese Dream Design is thrilled to welcome these beautiful hand woven fabrics to our textile collection.
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| Women's t-strap sandals in Kachin textiles |
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| Women's t-strap sandals in Kachin textiles |
