Miao Baby Carrier from China

The Miao people are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in China. Most are concentrated in the southwestern Guizhou Province, where they live in tight-knit villages perched among the lofty Wuling Mountains. The Miao are made up of dozens of distinct groups, each with its own dialect, customs and costume traditions.  

This richly embroidered baby carrier was made by a Miao woman living in Taijiang County. Worn strapped on a woman’s back, baby carriers are among the most meaningful and finely made textiles created by the Miao. Each one is lovingly patterned with auspicious motifs to protect mother and baby.  

The exuberant bird and flower motifs in this example were created with a knot stitch called “da-zi” (“making seeds”) because the stitches resemble small seeds. The geometric designs are made with a local technique called “dui-xiu” (“piled-up embroidery”). This painstaking technique entails cutting starched silk into tiny rectangles, folding these pieces into triangles and then stitching them in overlapping layers to build a three-dimensional pattern.  

This baby carrier is composed of many patches that were created separately. Small patches are easier for a woman to carry outdoors, where the lighting is better, and embellish in her spare time.  

Change is coming quickly to this once isolated and underdeveloped province. Television, tourism, improved transportation and educational opportunities are bringing new ideas and influences. While textiles remain the most highly valued art form among the Miao, much less time is spent on elaborate production.