Cotton Shoulder Bag 'Hmong Pride'

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Black hosts brighten a tantalizing pattern that pays tribute to the textile legacy of the Hmong hill tribes of Thailand. Presented in the form of a shoulder bag, the ornate frontal flap lifts up to reveal a zipper closure. Anchalika Chamnan hand-sews the embroidered motifs over cotton cloth, its singular design radiant with ancient artistry. 80% cotton, 20% nylon Care instructions: Hand wash only in luke-warm water with mild detergent. Artisan Info: "My name is Anchalika Chamnan, I come from northern Thailand, which is considered to be the gate to Burma, Laos, and China. My hometown is renowned as a trading town and my family and relatives are involved in different types of trading. At present I am studying geography at the university but when I go home I stay with my aunt, since she works in the textile trade. "She began by buying textiles from people and selling to others. But about a year after that, she started to design her own textiles, transforming them into different types of work. She needs many people to help her, so I am here to help her out. And in so doing, I learn her craft. Even if embroidery is a traditional skill for the women in our area and everybody can do it, I still need to learn more about patterns to create more interesting pieces.