tribal clothing and textiles
Material Used in LOI CRAFT, jammu & kashmir
The wool textile of Loi has been hand-spun from local sheep fibers giving it a texture thick enough to withstand cold weather. For the thickness of wool, it means cleaning, hand spinning, and weaving; it shows the artisanal tradition unbroken through generations. Some of the Loi blankets are naturally dyed, honoring the rough and raw beauty of wool. The use of locally available natural materials adds warmth, strength, and representation of the pastoral way of life in the area.
The Loi or wool blankets form the major craft of the tribes of Gujjars, Bakerwals, Pahari, Gaddi, Sippi, Koli, and Shina-Dard in Jammu & Kashmir. These traditionally hand-spun wool blankets have a reputation for retaining warmth and comfort during the harsh winter months. The designs of the Loi blankets tend to be simple; they present an articulation of the minimalist style of these tribes that are governed by their love for nature and pressed for crafts that are both useful and beautiful.
These tribes are dispersed across the varied landscapes of Jammu & Kashmir, where each has distinctive cultural practices, livelihoods, and artisanal skills. Renowned for their skill at animal herding and wool-crafts, they employ tools such as wool to produce necessities such as the Loi. These groups maintain a way of life centered around the conservation of traditional skills, with crafts such as Loi-making being greatly embedded in their heritage, representative of resilience as well as a way of living in harsh conditions.
Loi blankets are an important source of warmth and comfort for the tribes of the colder areas of Jammu & Kashmir. Apart from being utilized as ordinary bedding, these blankets provide multifunctional usage, at times used as shawls or wraps while working outdoors. In season migrations and tents, they play a crucial role in maintaining warmth. Loi also appears in important ceremonies, giving it the double purpose of being both an object of use as well as a representative of the identity and work of the tribe.
The Loi blanket is of great cultural significance to the Jammu & Kashmir tribes, representing traditional craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations. Its manufacture and utilization in everyday life, rituals, and migration treks reaffirm tribal identity, strength, and adaptability to the mountainous environment. Loi weaving also offers a sense of community and continuity, where craftsmanship is intertwined with everyday living, highlighting the ageless beauty and functionality of tribal artistry in contemporary times.
