The weaving of belts, shawls, shoelaces, bands and other garments is typical of traditional Sámi handicrafts, called duodji in the North Sámi language. Duodji is an essential part of the living culture of the Sámi, the indigenous peoples of Northern Europe who live in Norway, Sweden, Finland and North-West Russia.

The woven belt is an important element of the traditional Sámi dress called gákti. The style and decorative patterns of a gákti together with headwear, shoelaces and belt indicate a person’s Sámi identity and belonging to a particular local Sámi community. This is a non-verbal means of traditional communication, which shows great diversity of Sámi cultural heritage and is connected to the value of collectivity and traditional Sámi aesthetics.

The Sámi have used various kinds of leather belts, as well as twisted and woven wool belts. The woven belt called láhppeboagán requires special attention because this traditional weaving technique is threatened. This kind of woven belt has been used in the county of Finnmark in Northern Norway. This article is about the preservation of the weaving tradition of láhppeboagán in Kárášjohka (Karasjok).

The láhppeboagán belt is woven with a rigid heddle loom (njuikun) usually made of reindeer horn and a wooden shuttle (geahpa) with harness of wool and cotton. The belt consists of three parts: two woven edges (čuldojuvvon ravda) and a central woven section (guovddášgirji) . These parts are sewn together and reinforced with a supportive lining fabric (skoađas), which is usually a stiff sail fabric firm enough to hold itself up. The belt is made in cotton and wool.