Kudzu one-handle bag

This bag is hand-woven in a village in northern Laos using thread made from kudzu vines. The off-white version is undyed, while the black version is dyed with mud. This is a rare one-handle bag.

In Laos, kudzu's water-resistant and durable properties have led to it being used to make tools that are deeply rooted in everyday life, such as nets for catching fish and bags for carrying luggage and building materials.

Extracting the fibers from the vines and spinning them into thread is all done by hand, which takes a lot of time and effort, just like spinning the thread. The women then knit the finished thread one by one using knitting needles.

Unlike cotton, which is produced throughout Laos, kudzu handicrafts have been passed down from generation to generation only in a limited number of villages in the north. Today, this weaving technique is applied to the production of bags and clothing accessories. While the form has changed amid rapid development, the tradition is being passed down to the next generation.