The Weaving Naga motif is the art of producing a fabric with the most popular motif throughout the country that is widely practiced in Laos. Traditional wooden looms are used to weave it, as is the bamboo reed beater comb and wooden frame.
It can take several days to complete one Naga pattern. The motif is created during weaving, not afterward. Nowadays, Naga motifs are produced for clothing, particularly women's sinhs (skirts) worn in everyday life, and sashes for ceremonial and religious occasions.
It is believed that Lao people's ancestors were Naga, living in rivers, and who still live there and protect their descendants. Naga motifs are woven daily in nearly every household in the Tai-Kadai and Mon-Khmer communities in Laos. Although men are more likely to use other art forms to apply this motif, such as sculpture, wood carving, etc., this motif can be produced in weaving regardless of gender or age. Naga design textiles are used throughout a person's lifetime. Baby blankets and carrying clothes are embroidered with Naga motifs to protect them from evil. It is worn by adults in their daily lives as well as at formal ceremonies at temples and at official events. Naga motifs are woven into the wedding outfits of the couple to bless them and bring them prosperity. Naga motifs are often prepared by women to wear when they die in hopes of gaining access to heaven and returning fortune to their families.
During the last few decades, practitioners and other stakeholders have actively collaborated to ensure the viability of the element. Through marketing, craft exhibitions, research on traditional Naga designs, documentation of various aspects of the element, and advocacy for strengthening safeguarding measures, many individuals and non-profit organizations have worked to ensure its viability. Additionally, the government offered low-interest loans to the weavers to support their production. The Lao government reminds the Nagas weavers that the capital of Laos was a Nagas city, named "Nakhon Sisattanahakhud" in Lao.
Through various statutory institutions and organizations like the National Institution of Fine Arts and the Institute of Research on Culture, the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism supports safeguarding the element. A wide variety of Naga sinh (traditional Lao skirts) and headscarves showcasing traditional craftsmanship are displayed at the National Museum, private museums, and the Lao Women's Association. There are currently distributors, retailers, and consumers of the Naga motif in the Hlouaohan Province, as well as in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.