In recent times the King's Royal Project and other aid agencies have been helping them with such initiatives as alternative crop production and the marketing of handicrafts. Times are improving slowly for some of them, despite the great difficulty of change. The Lahu tribes originated in southwest China, and have migrated into Thailand from northern Burma. Most of their settlements are concentrated close to the Burmese border, in Chiang Rai, northern Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son province. The Black Lahu are the most reserved, but wear the most distinctive costumes.
Women wear a black cloak with diagonal cream stripes.
The top of the sleeve is decorated in bold colours of red and yellow, at the whim of the seamstress. Red Lahu women wear black trousers with white edging and vivid sleeves of broad red and blue stripes. Amongst the other Lahu tribes, the Thai shirt and sarong have supplanted traditional costume. Lahu men wear a plain black shirt and baggy black trousers. Lahu villages are generally at high altitudes.