Silk weaving
Description: There are two types of silk: the thick weave with designs, made with one hundred shuttles or more, or thin ones in plain colours or in ikat style with myanmar motifs.
There are two types of silk: the thick weave with designs, made with one hundred shuttles or more, or thin ones in plain colours or in ikat style with Myanmar motifs.
The thick weave is called ‘Lun Tayar Acheik’. Acheik means the horizontal Zig Zag design which is a traditional pattern. Lun LTayar means a hundred shuttles but it can be up to two hundred, or three hundred, according to the wishes of the customer.
There is also the Kyo Gyi Cheik design, which is in the same wavy pattern but in two colours only. They are both woven in Mandalay and its suburb, Amarapura. The number of colours varies according to the design. Each Myanmar waist garment is about two yards and it takes the weavers over a month to complete one, more if the design is complicated.
The thinner silk is from Inle Lake in Shan State where the ikat technique turns the hard-edged Myanmar designs into softer motifs. Plain silk pieces and scarves are also woven in gorgeous rich colours.
Book Title : Myanmar Hotels & Tourism Directory 2007-2008.