Woman's garment (kushuthara)

The kira is the national costume for the women of Bhutan. This kira, called a kushithara (white ground with geometric motifs), came from north central Bhutan. It is a rectangular piece of cloth with horizontal stripes, consisting of three loom lengths woven on a backstrap loom and joined together. Worn wrapped around the body over a blouse, it is attached with silver clasps at the shoulders, and tied with a belt at the waist.

Most Bhutanese wear homespun cloth, colorful creations in cotton, wool, and silk, with a predominantly striped pattern. The stripes run vertically on men’s clothing and horizontally on women’s. Textiles are woven on backstrap looms and floor looms. Patterns vary from valley to valley and from household to household, resulting in a rich repertoire of textile design.