Pelete bite' lower wrapper, late 19th century, 60 1/4 × 39 in. (153.04 × 99.06 cm), Cotton, Nigeria, 19th century, Kalabari men and women of Nigeria occasionally wear a unique cloth called 'pelete bite' ('cut-thread cloth'), which is created by altering fabrics imported from India. Starting with existing striped or checked patterns, new designs are made by cutting parts of the white threads with a razor and removing them. The technique also produces little holes, adding to the visual effect. The women who create 'pelete bite' are important figures in Kalabari society: artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Their art transforms imported cloth into a cultural symbol.