Customer Reviews

Lao Textiles and Traditions (Images of Asia)

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This little book is a great primer for the wonderful world of Lao textiles. It gives you a background to the various Lao communities, explains what sort of textiles are woven and how they are used in daily and ritual life. There is also a basic guide to the meanings of various designs that are commonly found in these weavings.

The hand woven textiles of Laos are intricate and gorgeous displaying a wide variety of technique from ikat to supplementry weft weaving that gives the impression of embroidery. They are made in coarse cottons through to gorgeous silks - mostly on home looms by women in villages. That these wonderful textiles are still being made today is in some ways a minor miracle and their revival in recent times is something we should all be glad of.

The middle section of this book contains colour photographs which give you a good feel for some of the range available in this textile work. While this book is not the last word on Lao textiles is a fantastic introduction to a sometimes under-rated art form.

If you enjoy hand woven textiles an excursion into the world of Lao textiles is very worthwhile and rewarding and here is a good place to start to get a feel for their beauty.