Bhutanese textile reweaves its magic
Bhutanese textile saw a decline in the recent past but now, due to the increasing number of tourists evincing an interest in the beautifully woven textile including the Bhutanese who prefer it to the machine made ones or “soephob” imported from India, traditional textile is undergoing a major revival.
The cause for Bhutanese textiles regaining popularity among the Bhutanese is the fact that there is more variety of patterns and colours these days.
As a result, Bhutanese weavers are gearing up to expand their business.
Before the tourist demand for textiles made itself felt, weaving was just another routine in a house wife’s daily life.
“A tourist came and bought five silk kiras from me, each worth Nu 80,000. He told me he wanted to take one each for his family members to use it as a bed cover,” said Tshering Dema, a handicraft shop owner.
Choki Wangmo, another business woman who deals with handicrafts in Thimphu, narrated how she got into the business. She started weaving at the age of 16. At the time, it was not commercially viable but she had to support her parents.
It was difficult to earn enough money for buying even the basic necessities as she was the sole bread earner in the family. Sometimes they had to survive on one meal per day.
However, with the passage of time, and increasing demand from textile emporiums and local customers, conditions changed for the better and today, her business is doing well, far beyond what she expected. Currently, she has employed seven female weavers to meet the demands of her customers.
In the early 90s, illiterate housewives were the ones who used to weave to chip into their husbands’ income but now with the huge demand for the good in the market, even educated women are joining the band wagon.
Most of the handicraft business proprietors The Journalist talked to said that they got into the business because of the increasingly thriving market and comparatively low investments involved.
Pema Lhaden, a handicraft shop owner in Thimphu, said, “I am glad that I am in a position to help women who seek jobs; as a result, I feel that I am not only doing business for myself but also serving the nation by helping needy women.”
Sonam Choden, 38, an avid weaver from Lhuentse, said that she aims to bag the best weaver award at the annual textile competition held every year so that she will be remembered for her intricate designs.
However, the weaving culture is not something that the present generation has monopolized; it was passed down to the present era of Bhutanese women from time immemorial.
One of the textile businesses doing quite well in the capital, Shonang Textiles in Motithang was established in 2008, and it mainly targets Bhutanese customers. The most expensive garments the shop has sold so far was a silk gho worth Nu 1,10,000; a full kira worth Nu 90,000 and half kira at Nu 75,000.
Bhutanese textile has also been recognized in the western parts of the world, especially the intricate brocades and supplementary patterns that are unique to the country.
But it still has a long way to go, where making an impact in the international market is concerned.
But the Bhutanese are not complaining.
Kezang Yuden, a collector of handlooms, said she is passionate about buying the fabrics because of the country’s distinctive form of weaving.
Jamyang Wangmo, a former civil servant, who has a textile business, now says she earns thrice more than what her salary used to be.
Weaving in Bhutan is chiefly a female-dominated profession.
The most famous among Bhutanese textiles is Kushuthara featuring red, blue, and multicolored silk patterns on a white silk background. The price for a Kusuthara full kira ranges from Nu 60,000 to Nu 1,20,000.
Mechi garments which are similar to the hand woven ones are also making their presence felt in the market.
Source: thejournalist