Theseare the kind of plain belts that the Old Believers are now opting for. These are woven by indigenous weavers in South America and brought by men from the communities in Brazil and Bolivia to he USA when they come to look for wives. They are sold for a few dollars. It is strange that although they continue to wear traditional outfits in what most of us woyld consider gaarish clashing colors, they have no interet in wearig beautifuly pattered belts and are content with these plain ones. Kathe told me that the belt is a very imporatnt piece of their outfit as it represents the arms of their church encircling their bodies. It seems that the weaving skills will indeed be lost forever along with the traditional motifs and the meaning behind them.
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