Most of these people live in the northeastern state of Mizoram, India. Aside from rich oral traditions, the Mizo tribes are also associated with rich customs of textiles through which both identity and aesthetics make obvious statements. Among the significant pieces of clothing related to everyday and ritual use is the cotton wrapper with stripes. It is a rectangular cotton hand-woven piece of cloth, wrapped by either gender around the body in different ways like skirt, shawl, and drape on shoulders. The most appealing thing about it is its color-the striped pattern made with threads black, maroon, green, and yellow. Dominantly broad stripes of black and maroon occupy visual space contrasting sharply against the thin, narrow stripes of green and yellow and bring finesse and balance to the overall picture.
Traditionally, these were wrappers made on loin looms, passed on from generation to generation of Mizo women who conceived the colors and patterns not arbitrarily but under cultural significance-black and maroon depict strength and valor, and green and yellow stand for prosperity and harmony. They are used for important community festivals such as Chapchar Kut, social events, and community dances. These are also given during major life events, such as for weddings, to depict warmth and value in the tradition of hand-made craftsmanship.