Hmong Story Cloths: Preserving Historical & Cultural Treasures

by Linda A. Gerdner

Hmong story cloths provide a visual documentation of the historical and cultural legacy of the Hmong people from the country of Laos. The Hmong first began making the story cloths during their time in refugee camps, and featured here are 48 vibrant story cloths that provide a comprehensive look at their lives and culture. The creation of a story cloth begins with the selection of fabric and images outlined onto the fabric. Long satin stitches of multi-colored threads fill in the image, while details are applied with intricate satin stitches and borders pieced together and hand-stitched. Topics include history, traditional life in Laos, Hmong New Year, folk tales, and neighboring people. The quality and diversity of content of the story cloths build upon one another to provide a holistic understanding of the Hmong culture and history. Augmented with personal stories and artifacts, this book is perfect for history buffs and textile artisans alike.

Genres: Asia

168 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2015

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, well researched book on the Hmong people and their story cloths.

For example, I did not know that there was no written language for the Hmong until well into the 20th century, and that it was mostly oral tradition that passed down their stories. The story cloths was just one more way to do tell a story. The author found the women who made the first story cloth, traveled to Laos to track down women who still made embroidery, and has been buying up the cloths when she can find them, as it is a dying art.

Beautiful photography, amazing tradition. Author writes not only about the cloth, but about the people, of course, and what life was and is like now, for those who remained behind, and for those who came to the United States. (There is one cloth where you see a KMart and a freeway.)

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this book for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have an interest in historical textiles and/or needlework, I think this is a great resource. The photos are vibrant and gorgeous. I will say that the writing is dry and academic, so if you have a problem with that, be warned. It's hard to recommend this for purchase, but if you can get it via your library, I would. It was very interesting to read about the history of the people and how it related to their cloth-work.

**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Chinook · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was really interesting. The art is beautiful and reading this reminded me of visits g aHmong village in Vietnam. It's a fascinating snapshot of a group of people.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hmong people have struggled to preserve their ethnic identity for centuries, pressured to leave China for Laos in the mid-1800s. During the Vietnam War the Hmong people of Laos assisted the American Troops. America left Laos and in 1975 the royal government fell to the Communists, who persecuted the Hmong. Perhaps 100,000 Hmong died in the conflict and the Communist persecution. The Hmong fled to Thailand where they lived in refugee camps.

In the refugee camps the Hmong women created Story Cloths, appliqué and embroidered art depicting their old way of life, the Communist persecution, and their escape to the refugee camps.

America accepted Hmong immigrants in the late 1970s, with about 150,000 settling in the US; about 5,000 settled in Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. It was a time of economic distress and many Americans resented the special treatment the Hmong received from the government. The extent of the Hmong people's support to America during Vietnam was not well known.

Since we lived in Philly in the 1970s and 1980s I was familiar with the Hmong and their reverse appliqué and Story Cloths. I requested Hmong Story Cloths by Linda A. Gerdner to learn more about the Hmong and their amazing appliquéd historical documents.

Gerdner has worked with the Hmong and traveled to Laos and has an extensive collection of Story Cloths, cultural artifacts, and photographs.

Gerdner first offers a background to the Hmong people, their history, and how they created their Story Cloths. Beautiful photography of the whole cloths and significant details accompany the text. Chapters address specific Story Cloth themes, including The Hmong People's Journey, Traditional Life in Laos, the Hmong New Year, Hmong Folktales, and Neighboring Ethnic People. The detail in the cloths can be overwhelming but Gerdner's analysis explains the message and significance of the motifs.

In an interview with the Hmong Times, Gerdner gave her purpose for writing this book:
As a tribute to a special cohort of Laotian Hmong who created a new form of textile art as a means of sharing their cultural heritage
As a legacy for subsequent generations of Hmong Americans who wish to learn about their historical and cultural heritage
To promote cultural awareness and understanding for those who do not have a Hmong heritage
To pay tribute to the extraordinary needlework skills that were used to create this new art form
The book can be enjoyed on many levels: as a social and cultural study, a history, and as a study of a particular art and craft.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book on both the history of the Hmong people and an translation of it through the art in cloth. The book is beautifully laid out with chapters covering the time under the protection of the US, their folklore, their culture and sub-groups or clans and how it effects their cloth art and the history and stories that are depicted in it.
This book brings out the story of a little known culture and lives of the Laos Hmong people. A beautiful book, well written with glorious photography, beautiful art, and well told history.
This book was provided to me in return for an honest and unbiased

[Rebekka Steg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and important insight into the history and culture of the Hmong people and how it has been maintained and developed through their beautiful story cloths.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley, the review is my own opinion*