MEETUE + CHAN

OMA TRADITIONAL HEADWRAP

$550

This is a beautiful example of how collaborative Oma traditional clothing production is.

The indigo-dyed handwoven cotton was made by Ms. Meetue around 50 years ago and gifted to her niece, Ms. Chan, much later. In 2009, Chan used the cotton to create this headwrap with embroidery, applique, braiding, and pom-poms. This headwrap features four cowrie shells, which many women like to use on their own headwraps, but generally remove before they decide to sell the pieces (so they can use them in new pieces). It also features handwoven red and white cloth for some of the tsawzah (stripes), and detailed hahphahlahphyu (frog’s hand) motifs with an unusual extra appendage. Combined with the pom-poms and shells, this gives depth to this singular piece.