Book excerpt: -Lavishly illustrated with over 320 color illustrations -Photographs of weaving methods, traditional dying methods and ceremonies -One of the world's great textile collections -Written by acclaimed writer Catherine Bourzat whose previous works includes books on India and Sri Lanka Philippe Fatin is a traveler, photographer and collector who has established a world-class collection of tribal textiles from southern China. These exquisitely colorful, hand-woven textiles are highly prized by collectors and here for the first time is the most extensive collection of garments collected from tribes across southern China including the Bazhai, Zhouxi, Xijiang and Gedong amongst others. The distinctive styles, colors and motifs from each are looked at in turn and the remarkable photographs allow the reader to appreciate the intricacy of each piece and the tradition prized by each tribe. Profusely illustrated with over 320 color illustrations the book not only studies the designs themselves but shows the ceremonies the textiles are made for, the traditional weaving methods employed as well other ornamentations such as headpieces and fastenings as well dying techniques and working methods.