The ingenious costume making of Baikuyao

The line running process for Baikuyao’s costume making [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Hechi Daily]

Baikuyao women embroider for costumes. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Hechi Daily]

Baikuyao women in Nandan county, Hechi city, Guangxi are skillful in spinning and have maintained a complete handmade costume technique up till now. Baikuyao’s costume making has more than 30 processes, such as weaving, spinning, embroidering and painting patterns. Many of the processes are affected by the season and weather variations, so the whole process often requires several months to be finished.

The Baikuyao costume making culture indicates that Baikuyao people have learnt to use abstract cultural symbols to express their life’s delights and cultural ideas in ancient times. It has significant status and value in Chinese ethnic groups’ costume cultures.