Tawlhlohpuan of Mizoram

Tawlhlohpuan is an important Puan shawl in the textile heritage of Mizoram. Its distinct name  means “to stand firm or not to move backward”. Named after a courageous Mizo soldier it symbolizes bravery and glory. Customarily the Tawlhlohpuan is draped like a warrior wears it. Its weaving is more time consuming and complex as compared to other puans. For the ground fabric the undyed cotton yarn is used for the warp and the indigo dyed black cotton is used as weft. The weft faced plain weave helps construct patterns over the solid black or blue base warp layer. The colors are chosen in sync with the background and foreground of the shawl, to ensure a visual and textural harmony. Combination of red with white and shades of blue with black are most commonly used for dyeing the Tawlhlohpuan. This long process enables the weaver to showcase their skill and effort.