Artisan Crafted Bridal Headdress from Akha Hill Tribe, "Akha Bride"

Breathtakingly beautiful, this stunning decorative headdress is styled after those designed for a bride. Akha artisan Thikaporn is proud to present this admirable headdress, handcrafted by her own mother, Sadaporn. She adorns the cotton headdress with an aluminum trapezoidal cap as well as multicolor pompoms. A waterfall of aluminum coins featuring dragons is flanked by multicolored glass beads to complete the grand design of this wedding headdress.

Originally from Yunan in China, Akha people live in Thailand's northern hills. Akha women are well known for their spectacular traditional costumes which include a headdress, a jacket worn over a halter-like garment, a short skirt, a sash with decorated ends, and leggings. Akha people are a proud and timeless culture, struggling to preserve their ancestral values through their traditional skills and knowledge. Akhas believe in continuity and see themselves as a link in the chain of life, which includes birth, procreation, the preservation of the Akha way of life – which venerates family life – and death, seen as a meeting with their ancestors.