In this article, the author provides a brief history of Hmong and traces the origin of Hmong story cloths. The Hmong, a nomadic and agrarian people, may date back 5000 years. Today they live in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos, where during the Vietnam War and its aftermath, many Hmong were killed or persecuted for siding with the American military. One explanation for the origin of Hmong story cloths credits a subgroup from China with introducing representational embroidery. Others argue that Hmong traditional embroideries were always meant to be images of footprints, snail shells, and other concrete objects. The Hmong story cloths offered a means of retaining cultural identity, and characterize Hmong's desire to depict a way of life, but also to create a marketable product. (Contains 1 online resource.)