Kayan Tribe, Thailand

 The Kayan tribe of Thailand wears brass rings around their neck from the age of five and add more as they get older to stretch and elongate their neck. This is done because in their culture, a super long neck is seen as ideal and considered beautiful. The brass rings are actually long coils of brass, and a full set of neck rings consist of three separate coils all together weighing around 10 kg, few women wear this.Wearing the rings has minimal impact on ones ability to move, and does not limit wearers to few activities. In the process of neck stretching, the neck isn’t actually being stretched, with the rings pushing down on the muscles around the collar bone, it simply gives the appearance of a longer neck.
There are many tales surrounding the origin and reason for the neck rings, many following the themes of:

•  Wearing the rings was      method used to stop valuables being stolen by melting items    and wearing them.

•    They were a way of being identified, to prevent the chance  of being taken by another tribe.

•    The rings are symbol of being a decedent of the dragon  ‘she’.

•    They’re worn for beauty purposes.