Women's wraparound dress (kira*), excerpt, silk; size: 250 cm x 150 cm; loan from Françoise Pommaret
A kira is made of various lengths of woven cloth sewed together to one rectangular piece of cloth, which is wrapped over a blouse and fixed at the shoulders with fibulas. It is the standard dress for Bhutanese women. The quality of workmanship and of the material vary depending on the occasion of wearing it and the social rank of the woman. Bhutanese weavers are known for their remarkable craftsmanship, especially in the supplementary-weft patterns.
Men's clothes (go*), silk, cotton lining; size: 157 cm x 226 cm; loan from the Museum für Völkerkunde, Wien
This robe was worn by the second king, Jigme Wangchuck (1905-1952).
Ceremonial textile (chagsi pangkheb), hand-spun silk with colourful weft patterns; size: 272 cm x 79 cm; loan from Anthony Aris
These »cloths for hand-washing« are only used by the upper classes and high clerics at rituals or official occasions. The name, however, has not got anything to do with the use of the cloths: they are placed over tables or hung on the wall behind the seats of high personalities. Cloths with yellow colouring are carried a few steps behind the king at official events.
Wrap dress (kira): silk with warp stripes and patterened flushing warp, richly embroidered, held by two silver clasps (koma) and a tablet woven belt (kera); measurements (open) 290 x 150 centimeters; blouse (wonju): silk; on loan from the Museum für Völkerkunde Wien
Today, the traditional clothing of the Drukpa population is the national costume of Bhutan and is also worn by other ethnic groups.
