Contemporary reference for weaving in Bhutan

 Bhutanese men wear a Gho and the women wear an ankle length dress known as a Kira.

Historically weaving is a home based necessity crafted by women on back strap looms. But in 1984 the Royal government helped to fund the Weaving Training Centre and in 1992 UNICEF supported the payment of monthly stipends for trainee's which was followed by the building of a hostel reflecting the need to accomadate trainee's from all over Bhutan. The Centre continues to support the trainee's after completion of the course by providing loan facilities and by selling their woven products. Many trainee's return to their villages and with credit facilities , they have started their own production which has augmented the rural income. There are many organisations working to support rural communities and thus preserving the traditional   crafts such as weaving. I have become involved with fund raising for the Tarayana Foundation a non profit making organisation helping rural communities help themselves. The president, Her Majesty Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, recently visited one project where a nettle weaving unit had been introduced. It evolved from a visit by the Foundation to assess the village needs in line with the policy for Gross National Happiness and the development of natural resources. A weaving production started as a result of a large patch of neetles close to the village the nettles, and the innate skills of the villagers. The Foundation supported the training and infrastructure needed to start this rural initiative.The work-shed brings the villagers together in the evenings to work on the nettle fibre preparation all the way through to fabric weaving. During Her Majesty’s visit, it was decided that four young ladies will be trained in tailoring and product design and development. The woven products are sold at the Tarayana shop in Thimpu. There are different opportunities for crafts to be sold in Bhutan some established by the Government such as a Craft Bazaar that was recently inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister and under the auspices of the Agency for the promotion of Indigenous Crafts where no imported products are allowed. This support and greater awareness of the marketing of traditional crafts has been part of the increased tourist trade as Bhutan tries to balance the benefits of increased income against the downside of modernisation.