Textile
Tenun Ikat Fabric & Scarves
From $25.00
Where every thread tells a story
The Sikka regency of Maumere in East Flores is the heartland of Flores textile heritage. Here, the art of Tenun Ikat — a complex resist-dyeing and hand-weaving technique — has been practiced for over 500 years.
The process begins months before the first thread is woven. Cotton thread is hand-spun, then bound in intricate patterns with palm leaf strips before being submerged in natural dye baths. Indigo leaves produce deep blues, teak bark creates warm browns, and turmeric yields golden yellows. After dyeing, the bindings are removed to reveal the pattern, and the thread is hand-loomed on traditional backstrap looms.
Each piece can take anywhere from two weeks to three months to complete, depending on the complexity of the pattern. No two pieces are identical — every cloth carries the unique mark of the weaver who made it.
Theresia is considered one of Maumere master weavers. Her work has been exhibited in Jakarta and Singapore and she trains over 20 young women in the traditional techniques annually. Her signature naga pattern takes up to three months to complete.