1) Quick portrait — why Qujing’s folk dress matters

 

Qujing sits in eastern Yunnan and is ethnically mixed (Han-majority but with significant Yi, Miao, Shui, Hui and other communities). The region’s costume traditions are shaped by mountain/terrace agriculture, local textile crafts (indigo, wax-resist, embroidery), and festival rituals; dress functions as everyday clothing, social identity and festival “performance” (weddings, Torch Festival, harvest rites). The city and counties actively support preservation of minority handicrafts and traditional dress as local cultural heritage.

 

2) Common materials & techniques you’ll see in Qujing

 

Indigo-dyed cotton/ramie — deep indigo/blue is a visual anchor in many Yi and Shui garments.

 

Hand-embroidery and appliqué — floral, geometric and natural motifs decorate collars, cuffs and skirts; embroidery is often county-specific.

 

Wax-resist (batik) & tie-dye — used especially in Miao communities for skirts and headwraps.

 

Silver and metal accessories — festival headdresses, necklaces and chest pieces (mainly Miao in ceremonial dress).

 

Stitched pleats & layered skirts — structural techniques that create the characteristic silhouette of many Miao and Yi women’s festive outfits.

 

3) Yi (彝族) — the most visible traditional dress in Qujing

 

What to look for

 

Dark-blue / indigo base fabrics with bold embroidery panels, often placed on the chest, shoulders and skirt hem.

 

Layered jackets and pleated skirts (or trousers for men), combined with woolen or cotton wraps in cold areas.

 

Festival pieces may use red/yellow trims, braided fringes and larger appliqué motifs celebrating cosmology (sun, moon, animals).

 

Notes & context

 

Yi costume across Yunnan is diverse but shares construction logic (practical, durable, symbolic embroidery). Qujing’s Yi villages preserve local embroidery stitches and motifs—many motifs are learned and transmitted as an intangible craft.

 

4) Miao (苗族) — two broad local styles in Qujing

 

What to look for

 

Two main local types (recorded in regional field studies):

 

The “ancient/pleated” type — large collar (big lap or “大领/大襟”), pleated skirts, top-knotted hair or elaborate hairpieces.

 

The “wrapped-head / pant” type — headwraps (包头/盼头), shorter jacket and trousers decorated by embroidered bands and “花边” borders.

 

Rich silver ornaments and dense embroidery appear on ceremonial outfits; everyday wear is plainer but still shows distinctive color bands and edging.

 

Notes & evidence

 

Field investigation of Qujing Miao communities documents these two categories and shows how local history (migration from Guizhou centuries ago) produced distinctive Qujing variants (simplified shapes, different color palettes and headgear styles). If you study Miao dress in Qujing, expect local adaptations rather than exact copies of Guizhou court dress.

 

5) Shui (水族, mainly in Fuyuan) — subtle, elegant palettes

 

What to look for

 

Colors: Shui dress favors combinations of blue/green/white/black—a restrained, “clear and elegant” palette.

 

Cut & ornament: comparatively simple cuts, neat embroidery bands and emphasis on woven/brocade borders rather than heavy silverware.

 

Contexts: Shui dress is most visible in Fuyuan’s water-villages during festivals and in local folk-art presentations.

 

6) Hui (回族) & Han variants in Qujing

 

What to look for

 

Hui: in many urban Qujing contexts Hui men and women wear modern clothing; when traditional dress is worn (ceremony/religion) you’ll see modest cuts, white/black/blue tonal schemes and distinctive headgear for men and women rooted in Islamic practice. In county markets and older neighborhoods you can still find traditional caps, embroidered prayer shawls and modest ceremonial pieces.

 

Han: traditional Han folk dress survives in older women’s garments (embroidered aprons, kerchiefs) and in some town-level festival dress—often regionally marked by local motifs (e.g., Luoping or Luliang stitch patterns). Qujing promotes local Han folk crafts as part of cultural programmes.

 

7) Local specialities and named crafts (where Qujing stands out)

 

Luliang / Lu Liang embroidery — Qujing’s Luliang (陆良) is documented for its folk embroidery artists and local inheritors; this embroidery decorates wedding dress and ceremonial aprons and has been subject to provincial preservation efforts.

 

Malong / Marlong