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11/07/2003
Phula women wear long indigo cotton skirts extending to mid-calf and decorated with a colorful patterned hem. Like the La Chi, they wear a belt, often of contrasting color and decorated with snail shells. The Phula Hoa and Xa Pho groups wear a long-sleeved blouse with their skirts, with a U-shaped collar (see typical clothing on the left, above). These vests are often highly decorated with appliqué, embroidery and white seeds or glass beads. They are not buttoned, being donned by pulling on over the head. Women usually wear a hat made of indigo cotton wrapped around the head in a cylindrical shape. | |
Women of the Phu La Den subgroup (right photo, above) wear indigo trousers instead of skirts. This subgroup wears high-collared blouses of green or blue, with embroidered bands sewn on the cuffs and around the upper sleeves. They cover the blouse with a decorated apron, held up by a silver chain around the neck. They often wear a plaid scarf as a head covering. Phula women, as well as men, always carry beautifully decorated cloth handbags. | |
Phula men wear distinctive indigo clothing, consisting of trousers and long-sleeved shirt. The shirt is decorated with contrasting cuffs and beads worn on the back and hem. The shirts usually do not have buttons, but are overlapped in front and held in place by the belt. |