1 Video, 2 Photo galleries
Traditional Bhutanese weaving has became a significant representative of Bhutan's culture and national identity to the world. Inspired by Buddhism, many of the arts and crafts are generally influenced by its beliefs, teachings, and practices. The Bhutanese weavers have excelled in producing not only woven strips of cotton, but also of yak hair and sheep wool, which brought to the fabric wind and rain proof. As weavers from Bhutan states out, nearly every house has a loom, and often in a special room used just for weaving. Weaving is very much part of the Bhutanese life.
This video features the process of weaving a traditional clothing (Gho and Kira) from Bhutan.
The process of which is preparing the equipment, and continue by dyeing/ locking the the color of the yarn so the pigment would not fade after washing. By setting up the loom with simple supporting frames, the weaver begins to add in the yarn and slowly weaving the fabric string by string paralleling. Lastly, by adding in the coloured yarn and creating the pattern.
It takes months and even years to produce a single textile by weaving, and even the preparation takes up to a week. The Bhutanese are required to wear their traditional clothing everyday, which means that people need to know how to weave in Bhutan.
Virtual exhibition from the textiles museum in Bhutan:
https://www.textilemuseum.bt/textilemuseum/public/app/tempfive/T240104001
https://www.textilemuseum.bt/textilemuseum/public/app/tempthree/T240107002