Kera (clothing) explained

A kera is a cloth belt, a key element of Bhutanese traditional attire used to tie Gho and Kira, functioning as a type of sash or waistband.

Material

Kera is a rectangular piece of woven fabric that has fringed ends. It is made with different materials such as cotton, wool, and silk or by mixing them.[1] The traditional kera constitutes an elongated and slender textile crafted from cotton or wild silk, embellished with horizontal bands of supplementary-weft patterning. Its standard dimensions generally range from 30 to 45 cm in width and 180 to 240 cm in length.

Style

Kera is a women's garment worn with traditional Bhutanese attire. Women wear it with a skirt-type garment called Kira, while men also use it as a belt with a knee-length robe called Gho. Kera is folded several times in the warp direction and secured around the waist by tucking in the long warp fringe at one end.[2] [3] It serves as a belt and pocket or pouch to hold personal things. Kera is also a fashion statement now, but the younger generation wears Kera in a different style than older women.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barker, David K. . Designs of Bhutan . 1985 . Bangkok, Thailand . White Lotus . 978-974-8495-03-3 . 121, 122.
  2. Book: From the land of the thunder dragon : textile arts of Bhutan . 1994 . London . Serindia Publications . 978-0-906026-33-5 . 96.
  3. Book: The Textile Museum . Volume 26 (1987) Costume And Ceremonial Textiles Of Bhutan . 1987 . 31.