Paj Ntaub: Process and Product

Traditional Hmong embroidery is called paj ntaub. It is something that has been passed on from mother to daughter, from grandmother to grand-daughter for hundreds of years. It is a form of art that is hand-stitched into our clothing, which contains our hidden language and our stories. Paj ntaub is a mark of Hmong resilience, creativity, and culture.

This is my first paj ntaub I have done. This piece is a significant marker for my identity exploration, especially in terms of reclaiming and creating what it means to be "Hmong" (represented by the front side of the paj ntaub - the right side of this image) and the messy and non-linear journey it takes to get there (represented by the back side of the paj ntaub - the left side of this image).

I would like to thank the Hmong Museum of Minnesota for preserving, making relevant and sharing the art of paj ntaub.