Finely executed wax-resist dyed patterns adorn both the front and back of this sleeveless jacket, which would have been worn by a Yi man over two long-sleeved cotton jackets as an ensemble at festivals or weddings. The Yi people live in a mountainous area in southwest China. Because of the high attitude, their primary concern when it comes to clothing is warmth. They protect themselves from the cold by wearing multiple layers that can be added or removed, depending on the conditions.
The jacket was probably made by a bride and given to her soon-to-be husband on the occasion of their wedding. Yi women use copper needles to apply melted beeswax as a resist agent to cotton textiles, before dyeing the fabric in indigo to produce various geometric motifs associated with nature. These designs have profound meaning for the Yi people, and serve as a medium for showing gratitude to their ancestors for blessings. In this example, the large, circular motifs are thought to represent the sun. Other patterns depict thunder, moonlight, stars and buckwheat, which carry wishes for good harvests. Fabric strips in vivid colours and edged with gold foil add interest to the otherwise monochrome palette.