Khumi Chin Breast Cloth

The Khumi Chin people are a tribal group living in Burma, Thailand, and Northern India. Until Christian missionaries introduced a writing system in the late 1800s-early 1900s, most of their culture was passed down through word of mouth from one generation to the next. Khumi Chin men traditionally wear only loincloths while  women wear wrapped skirts and are bare chested. When dancing or taking part in ceremonies, they would wear a breast cloth such as
Khumi Chin textiles are woven by women and are considered to power objects. Weaving is a very old tradition  and production is limited, making their work sought after by collectors. They are created using a backstrap loom, and dyed using only natural dyes from local plants such as the Burmese lacquer tree, wild almonds, mahogany, and indigo.  This piece  is made of hand spun cotton and the two center bands feature the very popular Chin motif of diamonds.