The Art of Weaving

 

Weaving is an ancient and a unique art form in Bhutan. Besides providing a livelihood for the weavers, it is also an integral part of Bhutanese culture and identity.   

                                 

Women are primarily the weavers and the art of weaving is practiced predominantly in Central and Eastern Bhutan.

Weaving is mostly done on a basic, traditional ‘back strap loom’.

However, horizontal frame loom is used for weaving woolen fabrics and a card loom, a form of back strap loom is used for weaving narrower textiles such as belts.                                                      

                                                

The fibers used for weaving are silk, cotton, raw silk, wool and nettle. Weavers are skilled in dying their yarns with local dyes and minerals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                

 

 

 

 

Kira

Kira is the women’s traditional dress. It’s a rectangular piece of woven fabric which is made by sowing three loom length panels together. It is draped around the body and pinned at both shoulders with silver broaches and belted at the waist. A full kira is approximately 25 mtrs by 1.5 mtrs.

 

Gho

Gho is the men’s traditional dress. It is sewn from four loom length panels and is worn at knee length and fastened at the waist.

 

 

Kishuthara

Kishuthara is a classic example of traditional and exquisite women’s dress. It is called a Kishuthara as it has a white ground.Kishuthara is designed with labour intensive and intricate supplementary weft patterns. This style of kira is predominantly woven in Khoma village in Lhuntse.

Also, a Kira with a black ground is called a ‘Nagsham’ and a Kira with a blue ground is called a ‘Nogsham’.