Preserving weaving heritage in Bhutan
OneWorld South Asia
Established with an aim to promote and preserve the age old traditional weaving heritage of Bhutan the National Handloom Development Project (NHDP) is said to be doing a good business. The handloom centre produces fabrics worth over 200,000 Ngultrums every year. The designs and patterns are mostly different and are produced using the traditional loin loom.
The centre sells its products mostly to handicraft shops in the Thimphu and other parts of the Kingdom. It produces Ghos and Kiras and other materials for various purposes.
The General Manager of the project told BBS that it provided employment opportunities especially the school leavers. The project employs at least 30 girls between the ages of 16 to 20 every year.
During the training the apprentices are taught basic reading and writing skills besides weaving. Most of the trainees take set up their own business after passing out from the centre.
According to our reporter in Kanglung, the raw materials are imported from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The National Handloom Development Project also helps to market fabrics woven by local weavers. The project was established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry with assistance from Sweden in 1983.
Source:BBS