Bhutanese textiles are among the last of the great arts of Asia to gain recognition in the West, and this book presents the artform in its cultural and historical context. The book is an accompaniment to a special exhibition organized by the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem, Massachusetts. The presentation covers all aspects of Bhutan's textile and weaving heritage, from the central role of women - more than 80% of Bhutanese women contribute to their households' income by weaving - to fibers, dyes and looms to the functioning of beautiful cloth as an item of trade and indicator of historical change and social identity. Textiles are Bhutan's premier art and are integrated into all aspects of life of this Himalayan kingdom. Their richness, originality and striking beauty are prominently displayed throughout this book, with examples from the Peabody Essex Museum, which holds the largest such collection of any North American museum, and public and private collections in the US, Canada, Britain and Bhutan.