Vintage tribal Dao women's trousers from Dien Bien, north Vietnam

Charming indigo Vietnamese Dao women's trousers from Dien Bien, north Vietnam.
Hand embroidered detail on the bottom of the leg. This is a fully hand-stitched vintage garment. Naturally dyed in indigo.
The Dao ethnolinguistic group constitutes a very ancient minority people, perhaps once of Mongolia but certainly of China also referred to as the Yao or Mien. With a total population of nearly 900,000 people in Vietnam, the Dao live predominantly in the northern mountainous provinces of Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau and Tuyen Quang. The Dao are widely considered mountain people with a deep connection to the forest.
Each Dao subgroup is easily identified by their costumes which vary widely but are usually characterised by the inclusion of intricate embroidery.
Originally from southwest Guangxi in China, the Dao Quan Trang sub-group (white trouser Dao) are today only found in Vietnam. Their migration route into Vietnam was thought to be by boat from Hainan Island.
During ceremonies, the women wear a pair of completely white trousers, hence their Vietnamese name. Their headscarf is made of an intricate embroidered square of cotton that is dyed with indigo and embellished with silk tassels and glass beads. Symbols representing trees, stars, people and flowers are usually included in the embroidery.
Their white front bodice is often fastened to an inverted silver necklace and worn under and indigo blue jacket with decorated seems and tassels.
Through the centuries, the Dao have manage to maintain their cultural identity and avoid assimilation while demonstrating sufficient flexibility to adapt to new environments. One such example is the White Trouser Dao women who often chew betel creating distinctive black teeth.
Length on outer seam 86cm
Waistband 51cm