“Weaving Connections” site supports Micronesian Weavers in US Mainland
Details Written by Bill Jaynes
Habele
Beautiful loom-woven textiles of Micronesia display an artistry and technical virtuosity unrivaled elsewhere in the Pacific. Chief among them is the lavalava, a woven skirt from the Outer Islands of Yap State, situated in the Western Caroline Islands.
A new website aims to ensure this important cultural skill is preserved among weavers who have moved far from home.
Weaving these skirts requires tremendous skill, work and patience. It also requires a special type of backstrap loom. The size and weight of these items are such that few women who move off island for health, education, or employment are able to bring a loom with them.