Akha woman in complete traditional dress in Houa Khong Province

Photographer

Sage, William

Date

• 1972-1973

Summary

• Chudi is the name of this Akha woman. She is the wife of the USAID Ban Houei Sai field assistant, Pencha. Pencha was the primary liaison between the school project at Phate (PC 4793) and the USAID office in Ban Houei Sai, Houa Khong Province. The red purse and shoes are not traditional Akha woman's dress but local market purchase. The headdress is made up of silver bands and several bands of colored beads. The hanging pompoms on the headdress are red and made from dyed gibbon fur. Several bands of colored beads are draped across her chest. The square fasteners on the blouse are made from pure silver crafted by Akha silversmiths. The leggings are decorated with red and blue applique pieces of cloth and strands of white beads. The blouse has red and blue applique cloth on the shoulders and sleeves.