Traditional Vietnamese Hmong tribes apron, used to be worn over the skirt. Sometimes used one on the front one on the back.

The Hmong people are an indigenous group in East and Southeast Asia.

The prolific Hmong Tribal peoples whose amazing and diverse needlework by various subgroups has been practiced for many centuries-- originally in Southwest China—there the groups were known as Miao peoples. During the 1960s, many of these tribal groups migrated south to Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, where they continued practicing their wonderful needlework and embroidery.

In Vietnam, the nomadic Hill Tribes , are known for the beautiful decorative patterns of their hand-sewn textiles. With 54 different ethnic groups they make up 10% of the population but are slowly being assimilated into the mainstream population, leaving behind their traditional ways.

The apron is called Dlaim Sev is worn for modesty to cover the opening of the underskirt which is on the front and back sometimes and also is worn to hide women period problems.

. The embroidery on the apron is a skilled craftsmanship made by hands mainly. The more recent one are made using machines, but many of the older needleworks are of higher quality than those currently being made today.

This apron is at least over 50years old.

It’s an antique/vintage artefact, a piece of textile history.

The apron has been bought by an antique dealer directly at a market in north Vietnam and I bought it from him with 3 more for a total of 4. I kept 2 and selling 2 in two separate sales.

Because of the nature of handmade all the aprons are different. There is not one exactly like the other , all have differences in the quality of the stitching, embroidery, top and back fabric , the ribbon that tight the apron at the back, the afloral inserts at the top where the two ribbons attach Each one is unique although with some similarities. The choice of color and shape is to distinguish the tribes.

The condition of the apron are:

The fabric is quite worn out in some parts especially at the top front (see pics) and also a bit torn and discoloured.

Though has got that “vintage-used” condition and feel.

Some of the stitches are missing or loose.

The color of the embroidery is still vibrant and almost untouched. It’s in really good condition There is a gold thread also and it’s a subtle element of sparkle. The all apron is on the shades of pink apart the back which is green and black.

The back fabric is still in good condition and also the color is quite vibrant. It’s characterised by a striped green and black. See pics for details especially the magnified ones, there you can see the state of the embroidery and also the reference of the actual color of the apron.

On the overall it’s in good conditions considering the age and use.

The apron measures:

58cm width at the top belt + 67cm each side ribbon

34cm width under the belt top

41cm width at the bottom

45cm height

This is a bit longer than the other listed apron on sale here.

Also the embroidery is richer denser and in very good conditions.

Hmong embroidery, apron is an antique textile , a type of vintage needlework, is a collectible textile, also a wearable art/craft, a wearable vintage embroidery to go over a more modern skirt or clothing type. Can be framed, re-sawn into another garment, used as textile to make something else, can be used as a decor in a house or can be kept as a piece of textile history if something that might potentially disappear one day.

For who is interested in both the aprosn please send me a message and we can arrange something.