Metyate

Metyate is a traditional textile technique described in a range of ethnographic accounts and in some fictional world-building. It combines plant-based fiber preparation, natural dyeing, and weaving to produce decorative fabrics used in ceremonial dress and everyday wear. The term is thought to derive from a root in the Metyate language, with various spellings found in sources.

The practice typically begins with fiber extraction and retting, followed by carding and spinning. Dyes are prepared from local plants, minerals, or composted organic matter and applied through vat dyeing, hand painting, or resist techniques. Weaving is done on a loom with a defined sett to produce geometric motifs that carry symbolic meanings, often tied to kinship, status, or ritual roles.

In communities where metyate is described, the creation of textiles is a social act, passed from elder weavers to apprentices. Knowledge transmission may occur within family lines or guild-like associations, and patterns are sometimes restricted to initiates or elders.

Today, metyate appears in both scholarly writing and contemporary fiction. In scholarly contexts, it is cited as an example of intangible cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship. In fiction, metyate fabrics are often used to convey cultural depth and historical continuity. Preservation efforts include documentation of patterns, dyestocks, and loom technology, as well as programs to support living artisans.

See also: traditional weaving, textile dyeing, intangible cultural heritage.