Hat

The Basotho hat is an iconic cultural item and is very popular as a souvenir or gift, however they are also worn as a practical item of apparel. According to David Ambrose, 1976, "the hat is known variously as tlhoro, mokorotlo, or molianyeoe...and has traditionally been made using loli grass, woven on a frame of another grass...called moseha."

Collected by the donor between 1984-1986 while she was in Lesotho volunteering for World University Service of Canada.

Woven conical hat with braided circular brim. Hat is done in four sections of tight weave with openwork in between each section. The first openwork band, made of "X" shaped designs, is bordered on either side with dyed dark purple grass. Top of hat is crowned with a tapering cylinder, with diagonal patterned openwork sides. Four interlocking loops overtop and around cylinder. Inside of the hat, there is a loosely woven band to fit on a head.