Tunic (kushung)

Bhutanese textile  traditions weave Buddhist symbolism into such everyday clothing as this tunic, called a kushung. The garment  is simple in design,consisting of two  woven cotton  panels sewn together at the shoulders and sides,with openings left for the head and arms. The symbolism,however, is sophisticated. For example,the "well-being" symbol-a cross with whirling arms­ appears on the left shoulder. Further down, other Buddhist symbols like the crossed vajras (stylized thunderbolts) appear along the lower border.

Additional red and blue decorations are woven using the supplementary weft technique and consist of rows of geometric patterns and auspicious symbols. The red is made of lac (an insect secretion) and the blue from the indigo plant.

Beyond philosophy and technique, the kushung's extremely long fringes have practical purpose: they keep flies away from the wearers while they work in the fields.