The highland Tu ethnic group, as a member of the Chinese nation, has a unique ethnic culture that shines brightly in the long river of history, and Tu ethnic clothing is a treasure in this cultural treasure trove, known for its colorful and exquisite craftsmanship.
The clothing of the Tu ethnic group is brightly colored and intricately patterned, fully demonstrating their love for life and pursuit of beauty. Men’s clothing is mostly in blue, black, and white as the main colors, with long robes and jackets paired with long pants, appearing solemn and steady. Women’s clothing is the essence of the Tu nationality’s clothing art. It is colorful and diverse in style. It integrates embroidery, plate embroidery, pile embroidery and other processes. Each piece of clothing is an exquisite work of art.
The tops of Tu women are mostly embroidered high necked and slanted breasted jackets, with exquisite patterns embroidered on the cuffs, collar, hem, etc. These patterns often have profound meanings, such as peonies symbolizing wealth, lotus representing purity, and butterflies symbolizing happiness and beauty. On the lower body, she wears embroidered pants or pleated skirts, and steps on embroidered cloth shoes. The overall design not only reflects the gentle and virtuous nature of Tu women, but also remains lively and agile.
Of particular note is the plate embroidery technique of the Tu ethnic group, which is one of the most unique decorative techniques in their clothing. Pan embroidery uses black pure cotton fabric as the base material, and various patterns are embroidered with various colored silk threads. The stitching method is unique, and the embroidery is exquisite and fine, with strong color contrast and visual impact. On the clothing of Tu women, plate embroidery patterns often occupy a prominent position and become the focus of attention.
Tu ethnic costumes not only have extremely high artistic value, but also serve as an important carrier of Tu culture. It records the historical changes, religious beliefs, aesthetic tastes, and way of life of the Tu people, and is a window to understand Tu culture. In today’s society, with the advancement of globalization and the acceleration of modernization, Tu ethnic costumes, as part of intangible cultural heritage, are receiving increasing attention and protection. By inheriting and developing the culture of Tu ethnic clothing, we can not only preserve and promote the essence of national culture, but also provide rich inspiration and materials for modern fashion design.
