Tai Dam & Laotion Immigrants

Tai Dam and Laotian refugees began immigrating to the United States and Iowa in 1975. Governor Robert Ray was integral in bringing the Southeast Asian refugees to Iowa. Governor Ray, who served five terms as Iowa’s governor, used his connections to his church and the community to help refugees learn English, establish homes and jobs, and get children into schools. The Tai Dam and Laotians escaped violence and persecution in their war-filled homelands, many finding solace in Iowa and continue to thrive and add a unique cultural element to Iowa communities.

Iowa is now called the “the free capital of the Tai Dam in the world.” Currently, 95%of the Tai Dam population in the United States lives in Iowa, with 3,000-4,000 living in Des Moines. As Laotian and Tai Dam people have assimilated to Iowa, they share the traditional customs and language to their children, so that the younger generations understand and value their culture.
Tai Dam & Loatian Ikat
A common dyeing technique in Tai Dam and Laotian culture is the Ikat dye process, which is called Matmee, directly translating to 'tie the row'. Ikat is a tie dye technique that requires a weft yarn to be dyed before weaving. Then, ties are used to create a dye resistant pattern in the cloth. Fabric made from the Ikat dye process are valued in their cultures and used for significant events such as ceremonies. Ikat is practiced in the different ethnic groups and provinces in Laos.

Each group has a certain Ikat pattern that identifies their ethnic background. Traditionally Lao women wear a Sinh or silk dress in varying patterns and looks that are handmade. The Sinh is a tube skirt made of silk or cotton, usually including intricate embroidery or woven motifs, or Ikat dye.

Several Tai groups use the same Ikat dye process to decorate their skirts, changing the position of the dye to show their ethnicity. Cultural symbols which are Ikat dyed on the Sinh include sunflowers, lotus diamond pattern, and other animal figures. The motifs on the Sinh are able to communicate the region and community the wearer comes from. These dresses contain meaning for the wearer and signify the activities and formality of the events in which they are worn. Each piece and dye pattern has a significant meaning and representation to those who wear it.
Financial support for the collection also comes from the College of Human Sciences, Department of Apparel, Educational Studies, and Hospitality Management, and donors to the ISU Foundation.