Traditionally, weaving of eri silk in Meghalaya is done on a floor loom, locally called ‘Thain Madan’ which literally translates to weaving on the floor in Khasi.

The loom is a simple structure handmade by locals using bamboo and wood. The process of setting up the loom takes 2-3 days to complete and one warp is only long enough for one shawl.

Some of the most important parts of the loom are the luwi (string heddles) used to set up with each new warp to create the shed between the warp threads. The snad, the reed used to thread the warp threads

through and beat the cloth after each pick or row of weft is also bamboo.

Some weavers of Ri-Bhoi still practice weaving using this method and fabrics woven on the floor are considered to be of premium quality by the locals.