Chinese Hairpins

A gesture from another time, made for today

        In the Miao tradition, a hairpin was more than something to hold the hair in place.
It marked a season of life — a quiet ceremony of becoming.
Worn by women during festivals, weddings, and everyday rituals, it whispered of heritage without needing to speak.

        We’ve kept that silence.
        Each piece in this collection is shaped by hand, stitched with old patterns remembered, not recorded.
        The spirals, the wings, the winding vines — each one means something, though it won’t insist on being known.

        These are not decorative objects.
        They are gestures.
        Subtle, enduring, and close to the skin.

From the Hands of the Hills

       Our hairpins are made in collaboration with women from the mountain villages of southwest China, where Miao embroidery is still passed from mother to daughter — not taught, just lived.
       No two are quite the same.
       Some lean into silver, others into thread. Some are spare, some ornate. But all are slow.

        This is not tradition reproduced.
        It is tradition kept alive — lightly, respectfully, and with room for breath.

In the Miao World, Head Adornment Is Everything

        For the Miao people, the head is sacred. It is the gateway to spirit, and the place where heaven’s light is gathered. This is why traditional Miao headpieces are bold, majestic, and layered with meaning—from sky-high silver horns to intricate floral crowns. Each one is a declaration of pride, protection, and feminine power.