In Hong Kong, Hakka women wear these distinctive hats, known as liangmao ('cool hat'), when working outdoors. Originally from northern China, the Hakka people migrated south, and some eventually settled in the rural areas of Hong Kong at the turn of the 20th century. The term 'Hakka' means ‘guest people’, a reference to their history of constant migration resettlement.
Hakka women prefer simplicity and comfort when it comes to clothing, with black a favourite colour for workwear. This hat is made from woven bamboo, in the shape of a flat disc with a hole at the centre for the head. Along the outer edge is a veil, fashioned from two lengths of black plain-weave cotton, neatly arranged in tight, narrow knife pleats. The pleats are held in place at the top with a row of simple running stitches, allowing the veil to swing gracefully when the wearer moves, creating a cooling breeze. As well as being visually striking, the hat would also have shielded the wearer’s face and shoulders from the sun.