LEEVAN

OMA TRADITIONAL HEADWRAP

$450

When our team first arrived in Sengkang Kao Village, Ms. Leevan immediately approached us to show us this headscarf, eager to sell it. We were busy doing interviews at that time though, and told he to meet us at the end of the village in an hour when we’d do all the purchases for the day. However, Ms. Leevan got busy doing housework, and we were busy collecting information, and we almost forgot. She ran up to us just when we were leaving the village, and we agreed to purchase it. It is a completely unique piece that she finished in 1998, as is written on the piece itself. Ms. Leevan told us she wanted to try something different, which is why she used chain stitch to draw out fish, stars, and the moon. She also inscribed the date of completion of the piece, her name (the word right above the fish) and the name of her community. You would be forgiven for thinking the miahwhu (spiral) and akheu satsaw (zigzag) motifs were machine-sewn. Ms. Leewan’s stiches are incredibly neat and even. This piece is made of handspun, handwoven indigo-dyed cotton, and features a section of handwoven striped cotton, which is now very rare to find.