Abstract: A heddle frame for supporting a plurality of heddles comprises a top rail separate from a bottom rail Each of the rails defines a front wall and a rear wall opposed to the front wall A carrying flange extends from the front wall of the top rail and toward the bottom rail Each of the rails carries a heddle bar disposed toward the back of the respective rail, and the top heddle bar is connected to the carrying flange The top rail defines a first cut out portion extending through a section of the carrying flange The heddle frame further includes at least one intermediate brace extending between the top rail and the bottom rail at a position aligned with the first cut out portion and configured for assisting in maintaining parallelism of the top and bottom rails.