The Karens

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The Karen hill tribe makes up the third largest ethnic group in Myanmar (after the Burmese and the Shans). Although some Karens have been converted to Christianity, most remain Buddhists. Many Karens inhabit areas near the Myanmar-Thailand border.

Known for their skill in weaving, this craft remains particularly important to the Karen women. Women in northern Karen groups primarily weave on backstrap looms, a sign of Shan influence. Backstrap looms feature a continous warp with one end attached to a wall or tree. These looms restrict the width of a piece, and weavers sew multiple strips of cloth together to create wider fabric.

Southern Karen women use a fixed frame loom, an influence of Mon and Burmese groups. The frame loom is usually associated with lowland societies and allows the weaver more control over the size of the cloth created. Throughout history, Karen weavers have occasionally traded cotton cloth with the Burmese and the Mons, but most of the cotton cloth generated stays within Karen society for domestic use. Cotton is ginned, whipped, spun, dyed and woven in the home, with most households producing and using their own cloth.

The Karens use their skillfully crafted cloth in numerous ways, creating shoulder bags, blouses, skirts and trousers from the same basic material.