The Kriang

📍 Sekong Province, Lao PDR

Kriang textiles were primarily long pieces of red, black, and white cloth that were used as loincloths for men, and full-length sarongs and shawls for women. They would feature subtle nature motifs and stripes as decoration. Backstrap looms are used by the Kriang and other Austroasiatic groups of Laos, whereas the Tai groups use frame looms.  In southern Laos, foot-braced backstrap looms are used, an ancient type of loom that has been found all over the world to produce cloth, but is slower than the frame loom. 

This type of loom generally produces a piece of cloth which is narrow, however, more skilled weavers can weave pieces as wide as 80cm. As the textile on display is wide and long (77cm by 560cm), we know it was created by a skilled weaver who took several months to finish this piece. The Kriang are part of the Austroasiatic ethnolinguistic family, and their language is most closely related to that of the Katu, also of Sekong and Salavan provinces. 

Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy is a Lao weaver, fashion designer, and textile researcher who founded Khang in 2008 to create contemporary, high-end designs using traditional handloom techniques. In 2020, she released Khang’s first collection in collaboration with the Kriang of Sekong, mixing their traditional cotton with silk organza and other fabrics. Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy also founded the “Weavers Meet Designers” group of Laos, to facilitate young urban fashion designers collaborating with local artisans. 

Photo Credits: 

1. Courtesy of Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
2. Courtesy of Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
3. Courtesy of Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy