Woman's garment (kira)

The kira, the national dress of Bhutanese women, is composed of three loom widths of hand-woven fabric sewn together. The garment is worn ankle length, wrapped around the body, secured at the shoulders with silver ornaments, and belted at the waist. This type of textile, which features brocaded patterns on both front and reverse, is known as aikapur.

In this aikapur, alternating bands of red and green brocade appear on a yellow ground. Rainbow stripes bracket each brocade band; each stripe's five constituent colors symbolize an aspect of enlightenment. Into the center of each rainbow stripe the artist has woven alternative auspicious emblems.