Commencing fieldwork in Yunnan province, China the Sani people and their satchels were among Rob’s earliest fascinations with hempen culture. The Sani live around Shi Lin the iconic “Stone Forest” land-scape of weathered Karst limestone and red clay soil in a perfect setting for growing hemp. In the early 1990s every Sani woman nurtured hemp crops (likely only some few today), harvested and processed its fiber, and wove strong fabrics for clothing and various household items.

Item 7092: White rustic embroideries are typical for the period, could be made in Hungary but was purchased in Romania (Transylvania). The stitches are ruff and the fabric is made comercial cotton yarn in warp, and home-grown, home-spun hemp in weft. Woven in a rather balanced tabby (11 th/cm).