Naga Tribal Backstrap-Woven Red and Black Cushion Cover

Woven by women in the Himalayan foothills of Nagaland, in India's Northeast, using a backstrap loom, a body-tensioned loom in which the weaver uses her own weight as the opposing force. Each tribe in Nagaland has its own visual language; the tribal motifs on this cushion cover belong to a specific lineage of symbols. They are not decoration. They are identification.

In Nagaland, the backstrap loom, also called the loin loom, is operated by women who have woven since childhood. The loom is fastened at one end to a fixed point and at the other to a strap around the weaver's back; she controls the tension of the warp with her body. The red and black tribal motifs on this cushion cover are woven directly into the cotton structure, not printed over it, which means the pattern is identical on both sides.

The motifs carry meaning: each Naga tribe has its own visual identity, and these symbols encode lineage and community belonging. A cushion cover is a small thing to carry that weight, but that is precisely what makes it remarkable. It holds a story you cannot read at a glance.

Backstrap Loom Woven · Naga Tribal Motif · Nagaland · Pure Cotton

Care Instructions

• Machine wash cold, gentle cycle.
• Remove cushion insert before washing.
• Wash separately for first two washes.
• Do not bleach. Line dry or tumble dry low.
• Iron on medium while slightly damp.