Spinning and Weaving Crafts with Bedouin People in Oman

British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 104 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2)

Najlaa Al Saadi Assistant Professor Sultan Qaboos university

Abstract This report is all about the role or importance of spinning crafts with Bedouin people in Oman. The popularity of spinning crafts has been increasing rapidly in recent years and this can be the future for the expansion of the textile industry. This industry is known as a leading sector in this country itself. The proper background has been discussed along with the lifestyle of Bedouin people in Oman. After that, fibers with Bedouins and Shepherds have been evaluated with raw materials like wool, cotton, goat’s, and camel's hair. Then, spinning has been determined along with the importance of spinning with these Bedouin people. After that, spinning procedures have been discussed as outcomes have been determined. Finally, a conclusion has been drawn with the necessity of spinning crafts within the Bedouin people of Oman.

Keywords: Spinning, Bedouin, Oman

1. Introduction The craft of spinning is considered an essential method of creating innovative, unique yarns. This method has been enhancing rapidly in recent years and therefore, spinning crafts have been popular with Bedouin people in Oman. Oman is known as one of the leading countries for supporting craft industries. The Government has also given importance to this industry as it has helped in reflecting the social culture of Bedouin people in Oman itself. Natural sources like animal fibers, wools, goat’s hair, camel’s hair, and cotton have been utilized in this country. The importance of spinning craft within the Bedouin people has been evaluated in this report.

2. Aims Spinning crafts have been improving from time to time and the Bedouin people have used simple craft elements that have been utilized during ancient times also. The primary purpose or aim has been to determine the importance of spinning craft with the Bedouin people in Oman.

3. Background Bedouin people have been developing a textile craft named Sado craft in this country by using spinning crafts techniques. Apart from hand spinning, hand weaving has been considered as a crucial handcraft in Oman (Al Saadi, 2020). It has been found that since ancient times, wooden ground looms have been utilized by these Bedouin people. Due to this, many different products like rugs, tens, women’s bags have been designed. Even animals like camels, donkey’s accessories have been evaluated also. Cotton men’s fabric clothes have been produced also with the help of the pit loom or shepherds by the weavers. These clothes have been useful for various domestic purposes in countries like East Africa, India. Generally, these Bedouin people have used sheep wool, goat, and camel’s hair for spinning crafts. Some difficulties have been found during the development of weaving craft in this country due to the complex nature of woven pieces. The weather conditions in deserts become very hot in the summertime and various dangerous insects like moths exist. These adverse situations or conditions have prevented these Bedouin people from getting their needed or required craft materials. Omani clothes have confirmed their existence as the craft industry of this country has always looked to maintain the high quality of craft products. According to many historians and geographers, a house without a loom device is considered

British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 105 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) very hard to find. Many Omani people have been involved within this craft industry from a long time ago and further researches have established that weaving crafts have developed a long history of excellence in Oman.

4. Bedouin People in Oman Bedouin people have been living their lives roughly as this weaving handcraft has been a significant source of living in Oman. Many families have been economically secured due to this spinning crafts. It has been seen that during the 1970s, the overall lifestyle has been changed forcefully across this country. This craft has become a less valuable profession according to the related terms. Many people of this country have lost interest in traditional, hand-made rugs in current days. The zenith of Islamic art has played a massive role as Bedouins have gained greater import during the period of the Abbasid Dynasty (Al-Salimi, 2017). According to Islamic demands, human clothes have evaluated a better demand for textiles. The textile industry has grown rapidly under this Abbasid Dynasty and the Bedouins have been an integral part of this. These people have seen some relative prestige hinges in Oman along with the other places in the Middle East. Shifts have been transforming since 1970 in Oman but this textile industry has gained some respect for the Bedouins depending on the large society. These people have gained entry into the mainstream in the Middle East and they have extended their demands through their textile industry. It has been found that the weaving textile services have been played by Bedouins in Saudi Arabia but among all, women have played a prominent role. The overall knowledge of these women has been considered as people from other cultures or outside will be less capable of spinning crafts. The Bedouin people have suffered the impacts of this textile industry (Al-Saidy et al. 2017). The whole economy of this country has been influenced and hence, every Bedouin woman in this country has suffered most. Spinning crafts have been improved recently in many countries including Oman. Bedouin people have taken this as a profession for making it larger. The interest in these weaving or spinning craft products has been reduced for the time being as social development has been made in this country. Consumer demands have been changed from time to time and for that, this industry has also adopted those changes for further betterments. These Bedouin people have been full of unique talents or skills and therefore, a vital role has been played in these spinning crafts (Heidkamp, 2018). Tough life has been spent by both Bedouin and Shephard life but the impacts of this textile industry have hurt the Bedouin women mostly.

5. Fibers with Bedouins and Shepherds Resources are needed or required for extracting the required amount of spinning fiber. Natural resources have been taken into consideration in Oman from the existing animals or vegetables. Animal fibers have been utilized by the Bedouin and Shephard people from sheep, goats, and camels. Livestock breeding has been significant for the life of Bedouin and Shephard people’s life (Shaat, & Al-Habsi, 2016). Generally, these animals have been found in dry hills of the Omani environment along with the mountains. Thus, this has assisted in Omani weavers during spinning crafts (Ramdan et al. 2019). Raw materials have been utilized by the weavers for delivering or providing basic needs like tents, rugs, covers along with some animal accessories. 5.1 Wool Wool has been known as a natural raw material that is easily available from the local sheep. Wool is nothing but an improved hair fiber with protein keratin. Extreme elasticity has been seen in this fiber and for that, a high percentage of moisture has been absorbed by this fiber along with the good insulating power. Sheep fibers have two types of coats for both internal and external parts (Mansour et al. 2020). Coarse and soft finer fibers have been utilized along with the usage of wool for making nomadic weavers. This fiber is very easy to get spun as different necessary qualities have made cling them together. This Omani wool has meshed into each other with the help of grease, crimp while 12-16 centimeters associated

British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 106 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) staple has assisted in having an easier spin. Dar brown sheep have been found in this country but recent statistics have shown that many Omani sheep have been imported from different countries like India, Iran, Somalia, and the Middle East. More thick wool has been collected from the Indian origin sheep and because of the wild sheep of Oman, brown wool has been evaluated along with the white ones (Al- Khalasi & Mahgoub, 2018). Climate conditions of places have been an affecting factor for the variations in wool quality and thus, sheep under cold climate at high places have provided good quality of wool (Al- Mahrouqi & Victor, 2017). Finest hair has been found in the Shephard’s for living in the mountain while the Bedouin’s sheep have delivered rough hair due to the living in the Omani desert, the driest part of this country. 5.2 Goat’s Hair The hair of Omani goats has been used as a raw element by the Bedouin people for spinning crafts. These goats have as the staple length of 7-10 cm long hair. Natural colors have been black hair colors along with some grey color. The whole colors have been naturally polished and strong craft products have been produced using this kind of hair (Shahab, Qaseminejad & Shool, 2019). During previous times, this goat’s hair has been utilized but for now, it is rarely available due to its roughness and difficulties in the spin. 5.3 Camel Hair Camels have been considered an easily available animal in the southern and eastern areas in Oman. Hairy black colored camels have been living in the southern part of this country. A little amount of hair has been found from one-hump camels while hairs for spinning or weaving crafts have been taken from the shoulders and hump section (Al-Haidary et al. 2016). Bedouin people have used the camel’s hair occasionally and shed fibers have been collected according to the natural climate changes. It has been seen that this hair is quite finer than the sheep wool and hence, Bedouin people have mixed this hair with wools for making it stronger with the easement in spinning. 5.4 Cotton The Omani textile industry has been using vegetable fibers for a long time but cotton has been utilized during previous times. Different needs have been supplied from cotton by the weavers. Cotton has been cultivated mainly in India as this element has been using as the primary spinning material for long years. Countries like Arab have used both cotton fabric and raw materials from India. The cultivation process of cotton has spread over other countries and thus, it has become an important fiber. This cotton has been cultivated during the Islamic spread in Sicily and Iberia. This Oman country has developed a long history in cultivating cotton fibers (Pervej, 2017). During ancient times, two types of cotton such as white cotton and brown cotton named Khodrunge have been cultivated. The amount of production of cotton has been decreased gradually in recent times and for that, high production costs have been evaluated along with the low economic value. Countries like India, China have become a threat regarding this cotton supply.

6. Spinning The art of spinning crafts has been a useful procedure since its discoverable time. Raw materials have been gathered by animal fur components for more securities. Different materials like ropes, fine threads, bags have been designed from the first step of spinning cotton. Animals like sheep, camels have been taken into action for the natural resources of spinning or weaver craft elements. Minimal tools have been identified due to the spinning by hand. Fibers have been rolled often up and down for creating the spiral form. Finished products have been developed also together and long sticks have been utilized with the spun fibers. Tools have played huge role overtime during the overall process. The basic mechanical element has been added by extending the spinning time within the bundle of fibers (Polaszek et al. 2019). The craft workers have been given more use of both hands with the consistency of fiber twist. A special

British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 107 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) spinning wheel has been used by western countries for method improvements by the 1200s. The Asian countries have utilized these spinning wheels between 500-1000s. Apart from these countries, China has used this wheel in the 1400s while industrial improvement or revolution has occurred in Europe by the 1800s. It has been found that the development of spinning technology in China has shifted back the previous methods. Walking wheels have worked well for some yarns but some issues related to wool have been flourished for the unsuited loom. The treadle wheel has been introduced for producing a finer, tighter thread from a mechanical device. Best spindle workers have worked towards this and fine hand spinning has been created for warp. Fabrics have been utilized for the wheel spun wool. Spinners to weavers have been mixed at a ratio of five to one ratio as industrial machine spinners have changed everything in the textile industry of Oman. During the spinning crafts procedures, various preparations have been developed depending on the fibers. Before sheep, wool has been gathered from the green bushes (Ouakad, Sedighi & Al-Qahtani, 2020). Dirt, twigs have been cleaned before using this wool within the spinning crafts. Outer skins have been removed as it gets cut, dried, and soaked again. This has turned into a source of income for many Bedouin people of Oman. After the completion of this spinning, threads have been twisted. These threads have been skinned, soaked in hot water for getting it dried. Both hot water and under tension treatments have helped in eliminating these threats.

7. Important Spinning and weaving with Bedouin People The recent growth of spinning crafts has been quite important with the existing Bedouin people. These crafts have become a source of income for these people and therefore, the reduced amount of interest in such products has created an adverse impact on them (Eisenberg-Degen, Schmidt & Nash, 2018). The overall lifestyle of these people has been changed across the country and these Bedouin people have been living rough for a long time. The declined situations of this textile industry have hurt the Bedouin people, especially women mostly (Abu-Rabia-Queder, Morris & Ryan, 2018). The spinning wheel has played an important role in providing both economic and social power. New technologies have emerged and women have adopted those technological changes. All associated spinning techniques have been evaluated and due to this, the overall productivity and power have been enhanced within this textile industry of Oman.

8. Spinning and weaving in Oman It has been found that the camel's hair has been tested and goat hair has been beaten or teased in Oman during the spinning craft procedures. Even, sheep wool has been teased by pulling fibers with both fingers. Two general methods have been taken into action and for that, hands and machines have been utilized for fiber development. Still now, weaver or Bedouin people have been utilizing a spindle for making yarn out of existing animal fibers. These fibers have been known as Meghzal and Bedouin people have used such spindles with the affecting actors at the top (Standley, 2016). A thin gap of 7-8 inches has been seen during the development of various products using these spinning crafts. Two hands have been necessary for spinning and natural fibers have been drawn out using hands. The spinner needs to be in a particular position during this spinning procedure. Weaver or Bedouin people in Oman has spun spindle with the right hand. This has been known as Z spun yarn while when this process gets done by using the left hand, this has been known as S spun yarn (Shahid, Jamali & Kadir, 2018). After the spinning of the fiber, the whole shaft has been mixed. Associated procedures go through until the fulfillment of shaft while a single spun yarn turns into a ball. Some Bedouin people of Al-Wahiba Sands desert in Oman have spun the yearn by dropping the related spindle along with the available threads. Sometimes, the spindle gets contact with the ground due to the expansion of threads along with the spindle shaft (Sanchez, 2017). It has been seen that Shephard’s spindle is quite different

British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 108 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) from the Bedouin people as the wools have been positioned at a lower end of the shaft. A groove gets cut often in the top of the shaft and the goat hair or wool thicker than the Bedouin’s yarns or spindles.

9. Outcomes The textile industry has been considered as one of the leading industries in this Oman country. Spinning crafts has been known as some processes for producing craft elements by maintaining Oman’s tradition. These weaver or Bedouin people have been living roughly within this country and this spinning craft has become a source of income for many households. Natural resources have been considered as various animals like sheep, goats, camels have been taken into action. Needed or required wool, hair has been cultivated along with the cotton. These raw materials have been gathered from these available resources (Kalra, 2017). It has been observed that climate changes have been a factor also in accessing these essential materials. The importance of spinning crafts for these Bedouin people cannot be avoided as this has helped in developing good quality products for the existing consumers. These basic outcomes will help in enhancing this industry within this country for further developments.

10. Conclusion The popularity of spinning crafts has been enhancing rapidly over the years. It has been established that this type of crafting is the future of the textile industry. Traditional wool products have been designed with the help of this spinning crafts within this country but it has been seen that the demands of such elements have been reduced in recent times. The Bedouin people have been affected most due to these industrial factors. Among those people, women have been a prominent workforce that cannot be overlooked. The lifestyle of these Bedouin people in Oman has been evaluated along with the fibers of Bedouin’s and Shephard’s. Various elements like wools, cotton, goat’s hair, and camel’s hair have been taken into consideration. After that, the importance of spinning with Bedouin people has been determined along with the spinning in Oman. Some outcomes have been developed also and finally, this report can be concluded in such a way that the role or importance of spinning crafts with Bedouin people cannot be neglected due to its beneficial aspects.

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