Traditional costumes popular with Tibet new year

LHAMO is particularly busy this week as large crowds of Tibetans drop by her garment store in the heart of Lhasa amid a pre-holiday shopping fervour.

"Tibetan costumes sell really fast in the few weeks before the Tibetan New Year, as people customarily buy new clothing for the holiday," said Lhamo, whose store sells tailor-made Tibetan costumes on the Pargor, Lhasa's major commercial street which encircles the Jokhang Temple.

This year, Tibetan New Year's Day falls on February 22. Many Tibetans have travelled from remote areas to the regional capital for a shopping-plus-pilgrimage tour. Even tourists covet the dainty and unique costumes which are rarely seen elsewhere in China. Wang Xiaoli, a tourist from Beijing, strolled from store to store buying traditional Tibetan costumes.

"These will make perfect new year gifts and the best souvenirs for me to remember this land." While most young people prefer bright colours red, yellow and blue, Lhamo said her elderly customers tend to choose gray and brown.

"Tibetans used to wear simple, heavy, one-piece tweeds that were hard to wash," she said.

"Today, you can choose costumes with detachable waistbelts, costumes with or without fur on the sleeves and collars." Tibetan tailors have also sought to improve designs to draw customers, said Lhamo.

Xinhua