Skirt Date Unknown

This skirt was made by Hmong artisans, its dimensions 24 x 34 inches. Look closely at the horizontal lines that traverse it, from bold, vibrant red and orange stripes, to the striking zigzags at the hem. These aren't merely decorative; they are symbols echoing through time. Consider how similar motifs appear in ancient Greek pottery, textiles from the Andes, or even modern-day corporate logos. What primal urge drives us to repeat these patterns? Perhaps it’s a connection to nature's rhythms, the ebb and flow of tides, the jagged peaks of mountains. These zigzags, these stripes, they speak to something ancient within us, a shared visual language. The vibrant colors themselves stir deep emotions, from the fiery energy of red to the grounding stability of black. It is as if these hues, woven into the fabric, are threads connecting us to ancestors and landscapes far beyond our immediate view. The skirt becomes not just clothing, but a vessel of cultural memory, a testament to the enduring power of symbols.