Women’s Institute City Group

3:14pm Thursday 13th November 2008

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ON October 27, at St Johns Church Hall the last of the City WI Group Meetings took place which was once hosted again by Huntington (Hereford) WI. After supper, the speaker Mrs Jill Salmons, gave an interesting talk on her visits to South West China. She told of the many customs observed by the Miao ethnic groups of which there are three, Flowery Miao, Long and Short Miao. In all there are 56 ethnic groups in China. Mrs Salmons collects textiles of batik and brocading and embroidered fabrics, bringing with her many these wonderful delicately hand-embroidered costumes she had acquired on her travels. Young girls she said, like to make a new outfit for each major festival during the year. If her costume is very heavily embroidered it shows the young prospected bridegrooms that she is talented and does not spend a lot of time working in the fields and would make a good wife. Silver jewellery is also part of the costume which they cover themselves from head to toe, with necklaces, bracelets earrings, hats, headpieces with a wedding outfit weighing several kilograms.

The vote of thanks was given by Marjorie Stockley who herself is a talented seamstress.