Na’vi looms, known as ’ewrang, are used for weaving items such as cloth, hammocks, mats, and hanging decorations. Sizes and weights vary depending on scale and type of project.
While other Na’vi clans on Pandora organize themselves around carving or pottery, the Omatikaya and the Aranahe are renowned for their brilliant textiles. Thus, the loom plays a key role in their daily lives.
The largest of the Omatikaya looms, called the sa’ewrang, or ‘mother loom’, is more massive than a Terran pipe organ. It is given a place of honor in the common area of their Hometree. The sa’ewrang is made of a framework of rope and wood suspended from branches of kelutral and secured to the ground by a simple wooden crank system.
The Omatikaya use the phrases ‘branches of the tree look to each other for strength’ and ‘many branches together are strong’ to describe the sa’ewrang. Depending on the type of textile produced, ‘Eywa’s wisdom is revealed to all of us’ can also describe the sa’ewrang. This evocation of Eywa is a clear indication of the loom’s importance in Omatikaya culture. lt is also a compelling description of Eywa, who, in this context, is depicted as a kind of cosmic weaver who brings the disparate elements of Pandora together into a harmonious whole.
The Aranahe—a clan renowned for their brightly colored and intricate silk textiles—also have a sa’ewrang in their Kelutral commons area.
The loom shuttle is a hand tool used to hold the twine in place during weaving. Animal bones are cleaned and allowed to dry. Twine is wrapped around one end for gripping decoration.
