Lisu traditional clothing is renowned for its vibrant colors, especially among the Flowery Lisu who wear boldly striped woven skirts and elaborately decorated jackets.
Key Features of Lisu Attire
- Brightly striped woven skirts in multicolor horizontal bands
- Embroidered front-fastening jackets with colored trim and shell decorations
- Coral and agate bead necklaces worn in overlapping multiple strands
- Mens white or blue jackets with embroidered collar bands
- Distinctive bamboo or rattan waistbands worn by some subgroups
Traditional Garments
Women wear a long-sleeved collarless jacket with wide embroidered trim, over a long striped skirt woven with horizontal bands of red, blue, green, white, and black. Men wear white or dark short jackets with embroidered edges and loose trousers.
Headwear and Adornments
Women wrap their hair in colorful turbans decorated with bead tassels and seashells. Flowery Lisu prefer colorful headwraps. Men wear simple black or white headwraps.
Embroidery and Decorative Arts
Lisu embroidery concentrates on jacket collars, cuffs, and headwrap edges, with geometric patterns in bright colors. Cross-stitch and applique are common.
To the Lisu, the breadth and brightness of a womans striped skirt is an unspoken announcement - the wider the band, the more prosperous her family, the richer the colors, the more skilled her weaving.
Color Symbolism
Bold multicolor stripes on skirts. Jackets in black, navy, or white. Embroidery uses bright red, yellow, green, blue, and pink.
Festival Attire
During the Kuoshi Festival (Lisu New Year), women wear their most vibrantly striped skirts and largest sets of coral bead necklaces.
Modern Influence and Preservation
Flowery Lisu striped skirts are popular in Yunnans ethnic tourism trade.
Did You Know?
The Lisu are divided into three subgroups by clothing color: the Black Lisu, White Lisu, and Flowery Lisu - the Flowery Lisu wear the most colorful attire.