This is a close up of the back of a woman’s Lomi Akha coat (paerkhanq). Traditionally, the back of Akha garments are more highly decorated than the front, because the back is the area most easily viewed when walking single file on jungle paths.
This is a good example of the Lomi Akha style of decorative stitching. It is recognizable by its tightly packed rows of cross stitch patterns and the alternating rows of intricate applique which use a string to outline the patterns created by cut fabric.
