Dong tribe top; outside fabric is dyed with blue indigo mixed with animal blood. The Dong people (also known as the Kam or Gaeml) are an officially recognized ethnic minority group in China with a population of around 3 million. They are world-renowned for creating "liangbu" (bright cloth) or yan bao, a hand-woven cotton textile heavily saturated in natural plant-based indigo. During the meticulous, multi-month finishing process, pig's blood or water buffalo blood is mixed into a glazing solution containing egg whites, rice wine, and medicinal herbs. Adding animal blood to the indigo process serves several distinct purposes: (1) The Iridescent Sheen: When the fabric is treated with the blood-and-egg-white mixture and repeatedly pounded on a stone slab with heavy wooden mallets, it develops a lustrous, metallic, or plastic-like sheen. (2) Color Depth: The blood imparts a subtle, shimmering purplish-red or coppery undertone to the deep blue indigo. This makes the final textile shift beautifully between dark blue, black, and deep purple depending on how the light hits it. (3) Weather Resistance: The combination of blood and egg white acts as a natural binding and waterproofing sealant, rendering the cotton stiff, crisp, wind-resistant, and highly durable against the cool, damp mountain climate
 
Courtesy of Michael Hoeye. A portion of proceeds will be donated to benefit causes close to Martha’s heart.