Mising Eri Silk Loin Loom Weaving

The Mising (Miri) people of Assam's Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts are renowned for weaving eri silk on simple loin looms into distinctive textiles with geometric patterns. Eri silk (Samia ricini) is the only truly vegan silk — the cocoon is open-ended and the moth emerges without being killed, hence also called peace silk. Eri cocoons are spun into a characteristically coarse, warm, and naturally off-white silk. Mising women weave eri into garos (skirts), mekela-chador, and the distinctive black and red striped Mising shawl (ribi gaseng). The loin loom produces a narrow warp-faced fabric with the weaver's body providing warp tension. Mising textiles are sold at Bihu fairs and through the All Assam Mising Students Union cooperative crafts outlets.