Woman's garment (kushuthara)

The kira is the national costume for the women of Bhutan. This kira, called a kushuthara (white ground with geometric motifs), came from north central Bhutan. It is a rectuangular piece of cloth with horizontal sripes, 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.
The Kingdom of Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas, between Tibet and India. It is a country famous for its art. While Bhutanese painting and sculpture rely heavily on Tibetan art as a model, the textile art is indigenous, and it is the foremost artistic expression of Bhutan. Most Bhutanese wear homespun cloth, colorful creations in cotton, wool, and silk, with a predominatly stiped 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..