kloáka

Kloáka is a traditional textile-weaving technique described in ethnographic accounts of Veloria’s highland communities. It denotes both the method of weaving and the finished ceremonial cloths produced with distinctive geometric patterns. The practice is handed down through generations, often within extended families, and plays a central role in social rites and seasonal cycles.

The name kloáka comes from Velorian roots meaning “to bind” or “to weave together.” The technique uses a standing warp with a supplementary weft that creates raised motifs.

Weaving is performed on a backstrap loom. Weavers use locally sourced wool and plant-based dyes—indigo for blue, madder for red, and bark extracts for browns and yellows. The weft is worked in tight, even turns to produce a smooth surface, while raised patterns emerge through a protruding weft technique. Common designs include chevrons, spirals, and stepped motifs that encode local cosmology and genealogies.

Cloths produced by kloáka are worn in weddings and harvest festivals and are used in rites of passage. They also function as indicators of kinship and status, since certain patterns and cloth sizes are exchanged as dowry or gift.

In recent decades, kloáka weaving has experienced revival through cultural programs and museum initiatives. Some artisans experiment with contemporary forms and markets while maintaining core techniques and ethical sourcing.

See also: traditional weaving; textile arts.