The Arunachal textile revival: from Apatani shawls to a hill-state brand
A state with 26 major tribes is consolidating its textile heritage under a single brand.
Arunachal Pradesh’s 26 major tribes weave at least as many distinct textile traditions — from the Apatani’s striped shawls to the Monpa’s yak-wool weaves.
A state programme is consolidating them under a single brand, with quality standards, design registries and a festival of weavers.
The aim is pride as much as profit: ‘Our tribes have never been one people, but their cloth has always been one country.’