| Lisu Elements |
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These products are made entirely by hand using a special folding technique that is unique to this tribe to create these recognizable designs. The thin fabric that is folded to make the designs is purchased because it has to be of such fine quality. Traditionally, the base fabric of Lisu clothing was hemp material.
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For their signature technique, long pieces of brightly coloured fabric are folded and tacked down in narrow strips. Additional lengths are added until a wide band of overlaid strips is created. Each of these strips is tacked down with tiny invisible stitches. These bands can be as thin as piping where it takes 8 strips to create a pattern ½ inch wide. Sometimes shapes such as triangles, diamonds and squares are created. Finishing touches can include silver beads, bells and tassels.
