Toedung – the Merak Sakteng women’s jacket.

The RTA has commenced the training on ‘Toedung Weaving’. This is an indigenous weaving technique practised only in a few communities at Trashigang, Eastern Bhutan. This is the first training of its kind to be conducted in the country. This weave is done on the reverse side of the fabric. The’ Toedung’ design comprises traditional symbolic motifs such as a person riding an elephant, peacocks with their peachicks, horses, trees, and many others, all weighing heavy meanings and beliefs.
Since the weave requires patterning only on certain areas, a fast weaver completes a panel in 3 days. The price of the piece depends on the intricacy of the patterns. Today, only a handful of weavers in Langteng, Melongkhar, Chema, and a few other villages in Trashigang, Bhutan specialize in this technique. Also, the number of weavers who know how to weave using this technique is on the decline.
The RTA’s mission is to preserve, conserve and promote the textile arts of Bhutan. By providing this training with the support from MoLHR, the RTA aims to revitalize and ensure the continuation of the ‘Toedung Weaving’. The training will last for 3 months and currently, we have 10 participants availing this training.
Trainer’s profile:
The trainers are from Langteng Village, under Radhi Gewog, Tashigang. Ms. Tshewang Chozom is sixty-six years old and she had learnt how to weave since she was 12 years old. Over the course of her weaving profession, she has woven over 400 Toedung pieces.
Ms. Kezang Deki is only 22 years old and learnt the art of weaving when she was 13. And she has woven around 40 Toedung pieces which were woven during her school breaks. She is also a Dessup.