Dear Friends:

 

I founded Textile Odyssey in 2000 with the idea of developing unique, innovative tours that connect cultures through textile arts.  My interest in fiber arts, handcrafted textiles, clothing design, and unique cultures led me to travel extensively in remote areas of Asia, South America, and the South Pacific throughout much of my life. Between 1973 -1976 and 1982 -1984, I spent five years in Asia, observing the fascinating cultures in many countries. From the larger cities in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan, I made my way to small towns and villages in China, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. 

 

After taking a break from my long travel adventures to raise three children, I had the opportunity to visit northern Vietnam in 1999. I was astonished to discover that, despite the globalization that seem to be happening all over the world, many ethnic minorities still wore their unique clan outfits, expressing a proud allegiance to their ancestral group. Men, women, and children all wore their elaborately decorated, indigo-dyed, handwoven outfits in the fields, in town, in their villages, as well as at festivals. Further research and fieldwork with the ethnic groups in Vietnam, China, and the Southeast Asian Massif confirmed that there are numerous ethnic groups who wear distinctive group dress and continue other ancient ways of living. And, despite the mass media/communications technology available today, little is known about many of these intriguing peoples.