Stitching together - a photo essay of embroidery in Indochina

In many ethnic minority cultures across Indochina, embroidery is part of every woman's daily life and through this she perpetuates the identity of her culture, reproducing patterns and symbols which have been developed over generations of women. I love capturing the concentration of these women as you see them stitching away whether they are resting in the fields, on the way to market or sitting chatting with other women or family – embroidery stitches are a way of life.

The Dao have a truly unique and intricate embroidery style. Most girls are taught to embroider from the age of 10 or less.

Hmong embroidery consists of a series of symbols which have been handed down through generations.

Regardless of what she is doing - her embroidery is never far from her side - so she can fit in a few stitches when she gets a break.

Whether its sitting in town waiting for a lift - or at home in the fields embroidery is always at hand.

I met a group of Dao women waiting outside the local school to pick up the kids - it was probably the only free time they'd had all day - but the first thing they did was to get out their embroidery - and catch up on the latest gossip at the same time.

Waiting for a lift home - bike helmet at the ready - there was a spare moment - so out came the embroidery.

The Dao do all of their embroidery from the back - something which we find very hard to do as we like to see our progress as we go!

The TaiDam - or Black Thai learn to embroider at a young age - making an elaborate black headscarf - no two are ever the same but each incorporates traditional styles handed down through generations of women.

Silk tapestry embroideries provide a much needed income for many Vietnamese women. They can turn a photo into an embroidery in no time with precision and detail that most electric embroidery machines would struggle to do.

Whether its waiting for trade at the markets or just trying to get baby to sleep - there's always embroidery to do.

Given many homes in remote areas don't have electricity women still seem to find enough light to carry out their delicate embroidery stitches.

Whether its for personal use or to sell at the market - the Hmong are always busy making new patterns using the same symbols they have done for generations.

Even though synthetic clothing and mass produced machine embroidery is flooding the markets - an Hmong woman is always embroidering a piece for that special article of clothing, a baby carrier or hat's for her children.

Incorporating the old with the new is becoming a new way of embroidering as women create panels of embroidery to incorporate into ready made skirts and jackets from the markets.