For well over a century the people of Subidpur village in Pirojpur's Kawkhali upazila have been producing naturally cool shitalpati mats woven from the reed-like murta plant locally called paitara.

Virtually decimated by factors such as severe labour shortage, steep hike in prices of raw materials and a declining market for mats, Ayyampalayam is no longer the ‘korai pai’ weaving hub it once was.

During our recent trip to Southern Palawan, we were thrilled to learn about the rich heritage of an Indigenous group from Tawi-Tawi, who introduced the exquisite craft of Jama Mapun mat weaving to the ...