Perched high in one of the world’s remaining biodiversity hotspots, Chizami village lies in the hilly forests of Nagaland, one of the "Seven Sisters" states in Northeast India. Home to the Chakhesang Naga tribe, the local lifestyle in Chizami is largely agrarian, centered around terrace farming in the mountainous terrains.

The Chakhesang Nagas are practitioners of weaving their heritage loin cloth. From growing their own cotton, hand-spinning the yarn to weaving, Chizami women have great intergenerational expertise in weaving heritage textiles on the backstrap loin loom — one of the oldest looms still used by humans.

This portable device is characterized by a strap fixed to one end of the loom which the weavers wear around their waist, while individual straps on the other end are anchored to a tree or pole.

This special product is created in collaboration between Rurban by Roots Studio and National Geographic, to celebrate the masterful Indigenous Chizami weaves from Nagaland, India. It has been handwoven using 100% cotton yarn. It will keep you steady wherever life takes you, interwoven with National Geographic’s flag colors representing sea, land, and sky.

Roots Studio reimagines cultural preservation and authorship by bridging Indigenous artists from around the world and global markets, with respect, reciprocity, and remuneration. For 10 years, they have built an IP protected library of traditional art and knowledge, with royalties traceable back to every artist and community.