Ikat

Ikat is a form of weaving where a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dying is used on either the warp or weft fibres prior to the weaving. It is the dyed threads that create the final pattern. Each of the regions of NTT have their own style of ikat. The colours and patterns make it possible to identify where a piece comes from. The women sit an weave whilst it is the men who trade the ikat. There are still a few weavers using natural dyes but now chemical dyes and synthetic threads are being used to make the cloth attractive to tourists.