Nagas are live examples of exemplary artisans, who work day and night on perfecting their craft. Manufacturing products with impeccable quality and creativity. Making each and every product durable and resistant to wear and tear. The details etched on each and every product is subtle and intense at the same time.
Weaving the famous Naga shawls is an important skill amongst all of them Naga tribes. Apart from these shawls, they also weave handbags and jackets. For this purpose, the loin loom was used by them weavers, a technique mastered by these indigenous Naga tribes. As time passed by, the fly shuttle loom became very popular amongst these naga weavers. The decorations used for making these bags and other items has passed down from one generation to another.
Before natural dyes were used which are presently replaced by them artificial colors. In olden days Cowrie shells and beads used to describe the economic status of a person, who used to carry bags and baggages, now these embellishments are added to these handlooms, for decorative purposes only.
2. Jewellery
Traditionally both sexes enjoy being embellished with colorful ornaments. Their ingenuity lies in collecting and showcasing an uncompromising foreign object, for their personal use defined with style and grace, converting broken containers of glass into ornaments, where these glass beads are strung on a cord of fiber. Procuring these beads in multiple colors, such as violet, indigo, and orange, making such jewelry items one of the most authentic handicrafts created in the state of Nagaland.
3. Blacksmithy
Blacksmithy is the second largest handicraft for them nagas. These blacksmiths produce axe, knives, and spear. Spears are utilized in ceremonial purposes, decorated with goat`s hair on its shaft. Dao is used for cutting trees, chopping meat, carving-wood and killing enemies. It consists of a blade and a handle.
Considering Rengmas to be the best amongst Naga blacksmiths, presently in business. During them olden days Rengmas were the only Naga tribe who smelted iron before carving out weapons out of it, by boiling and heating the stone, which had huge quantities of sand. Iron contents are boiled in an earthen pot, till it turns into a solid mass appearing to be red hot. Red hot iron is then taken off the earthen pot, laying it on a furnace and molding the iron by hammering.
Nagas have an intense attachment with their weapons. The spear and dao are a necessity for them Nagas. A whole spear is made out of iron, which is used in hunting and war.
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