Burma Calling: Fabric Trivial Pursuit

 

There are 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar, each with their own fabrics and patterns. But a quick game’s a good game, so we’ll stick to seven. Read on to find out which group weaves with nettles, who makes loincloths for their loved ones, and all about Burmese tartan in this week's Specialist Subject.

 

Red, black and yellow

The “Mother-Pattern” which dictates the rest is often in a vertical strip down one side. Like an index, or a reference.

When a weaver has mastered the Mother-Pattern, she’s considered a competent weaver... #goals

 

A blue-black base, with lots of colours on top.

Appliquéd rows of contrasting diamonds and triangles. Silver buttons, coins and beads.

They weave standing up so they can put full weight into the loom pedals. Most other weavers sit down to work.

 

Bright chemical dyes, often with metallic threads.

The fancy stuff will include a mish-mash of different techniques, including ikat, embroidery, quilting and appliqué. The day-to-day wear fabrics are usually just striped, with alternating wide and narrow horizontal stripes.

You’ll find very similar textiles in neighbouring Thailand, Laos and Yunnan in China. The borders are very ethnically porous, so the textile influences spread easily.

 

Red and Green

Stripes and verticals – sometimes looks a bit like tartan.

Unmarried girls traditionally wear very plain, undyed fabrics. Married women wear something colourful and adorned.

 

Bright! Lots of pastels.

A wave-like cable pattern.

Royalty and high officials historically wove silver thread into their fabrics to distinguish themselves from the masses.

 

Magenta

Geometric forms, often very tightly woven.

Chin loincloths are a traditional gift from wife to husband, and take nearly a year to weave.

 

Black, green and red (the red traditionally representing the blood of the enemy…)

Simple, striking patterns usually comprising of stripes, squares and lozenges.

Traditionally, the Naga used to weave with nettle fibres. Ouch!

 

 

If you're hungry for more, the best place to see these babies in the flesh is at Brighton Museum’s James Green Centre for World Art, or the V&A’s South East Asian Collection.

 

And if you simply must have some for yourself, the best place to buy them is right here! Take me to the fabrics...

 

All images are taken from the fantastic Textiles from Burma by Elizabeth Dell and Sandra Dudley. Buy a copy here.