Tais, traditional textile (Timor-Leste)
Nomination: Urgent Safeguarding List 2021
EN: An elderly woman weaver spinning cotton that she has grown around her house. Once the cotton thread is enough to produce a textile, she will start weaving.
EN: A group of weavers is chopping various natural plants that will be used to dye cotton threads.
EN: A woman weaving Tais outside her house. The textile is woven in a simple traditional loom called Atis.
EN: A group of weavers spending their afternoon weaving together. By working together in weaver groups, they motivate each other as well as share knowledge and skills.
EN: The little girl is learning how to weave Tais from her aunt. Through this toy loom, she is learning how to differentiate the odd and even threads, as the first stage of learning the weaving skill.
EN: Various colors and motifs are used in Tais. The Tais in the photo has been collected from the weavers, being hung under the sun and winds before brought to markets.
EN: Men wearing Tais after a ceremony. Various motifs are used in Tais, representing the person’s social status.
EN: A local community leader in traditional attire attending the cultural ceremony. Several young girls and boys standing behind him, are also in traditional attire for the ceremony.
EN: Various Tais sold in a local market. It is common for women weavers to sell Tais to gain additional income for the family.
EN: These days, various handicraft products are created from Tais, attracting international tourists.
