Hmong New Year 1997-98 in Fresno - A Textile Arts Fest

Hmong share what their distinctive ethnic clothing means to them. For Hmong women in their remote highland villages in the mountains of Laos, this yearly gathering was their opportunity to display their creativity in needlework and design. Now in their adopted homes, young Hmong continue this tradition to express cultural pride and community bonds even as their cultural outlook evolves.
At the 1997-98 celebration, 38 families were asked about their views on Hmong ethnic dress as part of cultural arts study led by Amy Kitchener in preparation for an exhibit at the Fresno Arts Museum. This video is the highlights of those interviews when there were many older women skilled in traditional art making.