Color Correlation Analysis Between Base Fabrics and Ribbon Trims in Miao Women's Upper Garments

Abstract

This study focuses on the tao trim (narrow decorative bands) in traditional Miao women's garments, selecting thirty representative upper garments from the collection of the Ethnic Costume Museum of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology as research samples. Combining classical literature and visual archives, the paper systematically explores the functional role of tao trims within garment structure and their color relationships with the primary body fabric. Based on the Natural Color System (NCS), the research employs image segmentation and manual color sampling to extract the dominant hue values of both trim and ground fabric. Color classification is conducted using key attributes such as hue, lightness, and chromaticness, followed by statistical analysis of common color matching patterns. The results reveal that tao trim configurations in Miao women's dress typically exhibit high-contrast, rhythmically dynamic color structures. Predominantly using red, green, and blue tones, these combinations define strong visual boundaries, conveying symbolic and aesthetic meanings through contrasts in hue, temperature, and area balance. From the threefold perspective of "structure–color–culture," this paper establishes an analytical framework for the trim’s coloration logic, offering both a methodological foundation for the study of ethnic costume components and design insights for contemporary ethnic-inspired fashion.