Xishuangbanna Purle

Xishuangbanna Purle

　　Purle is a type of woolen fabric used by the Tibetan people to make clothing and cushions. It comes in a variety of types and vibrant colors, and is an essential item in the lives of the Monba people.

　　Purle is actually handwoven woolen cloth, also known as Tibetan wool fabric. It is the main material used to produce Tibetan attire, Tibetan boots, and golden flower hats, and is said to have a history of over 2,000 years. In the daily lives of the Tibetan people, it holds a position as important and widespread as cotton cloth does in inland areas.

　　Purle is a high-quality wool textile handmade by the Tibetan people. It is fine, smooth, soft, and glossy, serving as excellent material for garments or decorations. It is made from Xining wool and undergoes processes such as spinning, dyeing, weaving, and finishing.　

　　First, the wool is spun into thread using a spindle, operated manually with a simple spinning frame. With this method, a skilled woman can weave nearly 3 meters of purle in a day.

　　Second, the wool is spun into thread using a spinning wheel, then woven on a trapezoidal wooden loom.

　　The traditional wooden-loom used to weave purle produces white fabric about 24 centimeters wide, suitable for men’s clothing. However, it is generally dyed black, or sometimes red, green, and other colors. As purle is a woolen fabric, it is durable, sturdy, and provides good warmth, making it highly popular among the public. It is used to make clothing and cushions, with over 10 varieties differing in thickness. Handmade production typically involves spinning thread with a spindle and weaving on a loom, producing fabric about 40 centimeters wide. The wool thread is dyed with natural dyes such as madder, rhubarb, buckwheat, and walnut husks, resulting in colors like ochre-red, yellow, and green.