Nagaland is a remote, mountainous state in northeast India, bordering Myanmar. The Naga people are comprised of dozens of ethnic groups who speak languages related to Tibetan-Burmese. Although the groups are independent of one another, they have many customs and traditions in common. This textile is from the Chang sub-group of the Naga and would have been made for a male warrior. The cotton fabric has been dyed with a plant locally known as osak, which produces indigo dyestuff. The motifs are made with cowrie shells.
