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Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Our pictures (and yours!) from the communities we work with throughout Indonesia (Sumba, Flores, Sulawesi. Bali and more). Includes ceremonial, ritual and day…

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Threads of Life Textiles

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This photo was taken in 1998 when Threads of Life was just beginning its work. This husband and wife from the Meo caste provided support to the late spiritual leader Tnesi Iba Usboko who died in 2020. Spirituality, Husband, Life, Flowers, Spiritual

This photo was taken in 1998 when Threads of Life was just beginning its work. This husband and wife from the Meo caste provided support to the late spiritual leader Tnesi Iba Usboko who died in 2020.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Older women usually wear traditional dress when going to market in Timor. Initially, this was how Threads of Life found weavers to begin to work with – we spotted amazing textiles and chatted with them and ended up in their homes talking about their families and weaving. Traditional Dresses, Older Women, Families, Parents, Weaving, Textiles, Homes, How To Wear

Traditional Dresses

Older women usually wear traditional dress when going to market in Timor. Initially, this was how Threads of Life found weavers to begin to work with – we spotted amazing textiles and chatted with them and ended up in their homes talking about their families and weaving.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Why are the Sekomandi cloths so dear to our heart? Let us tell you a story. In May of 1999, Threads of Life staff member I Made Maduarta (Pung) set off for the Karataun highlands in search of traditional sekomandi weavers. “It was like the end of the world,” said Pung. Since that first trip, Pung has returned to Karataun every year, penetrating one day’s ride farther up the mountain tracks. Slowly, they have built trust with local weavers, and have helped to establish weavers’ coops. End Of The World, Carpet, Let It Be, Coops, Highlands, Trust, Mountain, Traditional

End Of The World

Why are the Sekomandi cloths so dear to our heart? Let us tell you a story. In May of 1999, Threads of Life staff member I Made Maduarta (Pung) set off for the Karataun highlands in search of traditional sekomandi weavers. “It was like the end of the world,” said Pung. Since that first trip, Pung has returned to Karataun every year, penetrating one day’s ride farther up the mountain tracks. Slowly, they have built trust with local weavers, and have helped to establish weavers’ coops.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

In 2020 (and now 2021) it was impossible for us to make our annual visits to our weaving community partners. Many have put strict regional quarantines in place in order to protect their people from COVID. Some communities are are still able to talk with us via social media or phones, others have been unreachable. Perhaps they've been unable to get into an area with phone signal with quarantines in place or have been unable to get phone credit. Then And Now, Regional, Bali, Phones, Community, Social Media, People

In 2020 (and now 2021) it was impossible for us to make our annual visits to our weaving community partners. Many have put strict regional quarantines in place in order to protect their people from COVID. Some communities are are still able to talk with us via social media or phones, others have been unreachable. Perhaps they've been unable to get into an area with phone signal with quarantines in place or have been unable to get phone credit.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Heirloom crops and silver designating nobility in Boti, Timor. Silver, Food, Photos, Instagram, Pictures, Essen, Meals

Heirloom crops and silver designating nobility in Boti, Timor.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Crossing one of the 64 rivers en route to the weavers' village we partner with in Sulawesi. Rivers, River, Lakes

Crossing one of the 64 rivers en route to the weavers' village we partner with in Sulawesi.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Field Notes, Life Words, Bird Feeders, Globe, Website, Outdoor Decor, Speech Balloon

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Textile Arts Center, Lace Skirt, Sequin Skirt, Cultural Identity, Ikat Pattern, Married Men, Single Men, Everyday Dresses, Sailors

Textile Arts Center

Cultural Identity

Everyday Dresses

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

The symbolic visual language of Toraja is present in every type of craft, whether etched into the wood of traditional houses or woven into their spectacular textiles. Each motif is defined by a long tradition, and each element in the design carries a culturally symbolic meaning. These patterns comprise a sophisticated variety of geometric, curvilinear and pictorial forms that express the important relationships to the ancestors, society and the earth. Traditional House, Faces Band, Dutch Colonial, Types Of Craft, Textile Art, Ikat, Black Stripes, Relationships

Traditional House

The symbolic visual language of Toraja is present in every type of craft, whether etched into the wood of traditional houses or woven into their spectacular textiles. Each motif is defined by a long tradition, and each element in the design carries a culturally symbolic meaning. These patterns comprise a sophisticated variety of geometric, curvilinear and pictorial forms that express the important relationships to the ancestors, society and the earth.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Saint Laurent, Arm Stretches, Shoulder Sling, Seafarer

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

We live in a world that knows no boundaries. But for the indigenous people of Indonesia, boundaries are always potent invitations to see ourselves in new ways and change the ways we relate to the human and more-than-human world. Where the textile arts remain vital, they are among the primary expressions of this worldview. Importance Of Respect, Well Images, Sustainable Clothing Brands, Best Wear, Online Clothing Stores, Textile Design, How To Introduce Yourself, Sustainability

Importance Of Respect

Sustainable Clothing Brands

Online Clothing Stores

How To Introduce Yourself

We live in a world that knows no boundaries. But for the indigenous people of Indonesia, boundaries are always potent invitations to see ourselves in new ways and change the ways we relate to the human and more-than-human world. Where the textile arts remain vital, they are among the primary expressions of this worldview.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Indonesian weavers are famous for a tie-dye technique called ikat, meaning ’’to tie a knot.’’ The weaver stretches her warp or weft on a wooden frame and ties strands of palm leaf or plastic raffia around small bundles of threads. After hours of tying, the bindings begin to form patterns: stylized plants and animals, motifs declaring clan and status, pictures and words that illustrate ancient myths and recent events. Ancient Myths, Tie Dye Techniques, Recent Events, Hand Weaving, Control Issues, Hair Styles, Cotton, Strands

Tie Dye Techniques

Indonesian weavers are famous for a tie-dye technique called ikat, meaning ’’to tie a knot.’’ The weaver stretches her warp or weft on a wooden frame and ties strands of palm leaf or plastic raffia around small bundles of threads. After hours of tying, the bindings begin to form patterns: stylized plants and animals, motifs declaring clan and status, pictures and words that illustrate ancient myths and recent events.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

In West Timor, some weavers wrap knots of bright thread around the warps between passes of the weft, a technique called buna. A buna garment can take over a year to complete, and only certain communities take the time to make large buna designs. Buna masters carefully hide the ends of each wrapping, making the textile identical on front and back. The Timorese create electrifying buna patterns of explosive creativity. Valance Curtains, Masters, Knots, Wrapping, Creativity, Bright, Create

Valance Curtains

In West Timor, some weavers wrap knots of bright thread around the warps between passes of the weft, a technique called buna. A buna garment can take over a year to complete, and only certain communities take the time to make large buna designs. Buna masters carefully hide the ends of each wrapping, making the textile identical on front and back. The Timorese create electrifying buna patterns of explosive creativity.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Putting on bells for traditional dance in Flores - very trendy, note the bells being sewn onto jeans as backing. Put On, Dance, Note, Jeans, Dancing, Denim, Denim Pants, Denim Jeans

Putting on bells for traditional dance in Flores - very trendy, note the bells being sewn onto jeans as backing.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Weaving a traditional handspun natural dyed Kwatek Nai Rua in Lembata. E Textiles, Instagram Posts, Pattern, Spinning

Instagram Posts

Weaving a traditional handspun natural dyed Kwatek Nai Rua in Lembata.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Thank you @eskayel! "I have always loved the photos from the village in Sumba where my designs were first turned into Indigo Ikat weavings. The collaboration was made possible by @threadsoflifebali an organization dedicated to sustaining the textile arts of Indonesia. Thinking of them now as they have had to close their shop and are putting many of their amazing textiles online for purchase so they can continue to support the weavers."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Remote, Interior Decorating, Sweet Home

Interior Decorating

Thank you @eskayel! "I have always loved the photos from the village in Sumba where my designs were first turned into Indigo Ikat weavings. The collaboration was made possible by @threadsoflifebali an organization dedicated to sustaining the textile arts of Indonesia. Thinking of them now as they have had to close their shop and are putting many of their amazing textiles online for purchase so they can continue to support the weavers."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Selling betelnut in Sumba. Archipelago, Island Life, Palm, Conversation, Interview, Hand Prints

Selling betelnut in Sumba.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

While Rai Jua is a small island located to the west of Savu, it has great cultural importance to the people of Savu as they believe that their ancestors originated from Rai Jua before Savu existed. Small Island, People Illustration, Folk

People Illustration

While Rai Jua is a small island located to the west of Savu, it has great cultural importance to the people of Savu as they believe that their ancestors originated from Rai Jua before Savu existed.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Little Island, Blanket, Islands, Rain

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

The old and the new. The beautiful and unusual two-part indigo woman's sarong called Ei Pudi Wo Datu from Rai Jua. Sustainable Fashion, Indigo, Old Things, Weave, Bags, Beautiful

Sustainable Fashion

The old and the new. The beautiful and unusual two-part indigo woman's sarong called Ei Pudi Wo Datu from Rai Jua.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Tuban, a small rural province in east Java, is one of the last remaining pockets where traditional, hand-drawn batik coloured with natural dyes still survives. Tuban’s rare village-based artistic production has often been passed over. Tuban batik preserves the visual elements of rural Javanese culture which were once widespread but are now almost entirely extinct. Javanese, Extinct, Preserves, Hand Drawn, How To Draw Hands, Coast, Survival

How To Draw Hands

Tuban, a small rural province in east Java, is one of the last remaining pockets where traditional, hand-drawn batik coloured with natural dyes still survives. Tuban’s rare village-based artistic production has often been passed over. Tuban batik preserves the visual elements of rural Javanese culture which were once widespread but are now almost entirely extinct.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

Before Indian and European trade brought commercial cotton cloths, Javanese women grew cotton plants, spun the thread by hand and drew batik designs in molten wax. International trade brought to batik production wax-ready fabrics and the dizzying array of colours and patterns it is now known for, but the advent of cheaper, factory-made batik has resulted in an almost total loss of traditional techniques. By the 20th century, natural dye recipes & handwoven fabrics had nearly vanished from Java. Cotton Plant, Food Dye, Grown Women, International Trade, Advent, Cloths, Wax

International Trade

Before Indian and European trade brought commercial cotton cloths, Javanese women grew cotton plants, spun the thread by hand and drew batik designs in molten wax. International trade brought to batik production wax-ready fabrics and the dizzying array of colours and patterns it is now known for, but the advent of cheaper, factory-made batik has resulted in an almost total loss of traditional techniques. By the 20th century, natural dye recipes & handwoven fabrics had nearly vanished from Java.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

The sarita is a sacred Torajan cloth made with wax resist-dyed patterns. Sarita cloths are believed to be mystical in origin and are indicative of high status, bringing wealth to the family that owns them. In the past, both Toraja men and women wore the #sarita as a hip wrap; this is the first time this type of cloth has been produced in many decades among the Karutaun To Mangki. Wealth, Mystic, The Past, Women Wear, Bring It On, Patterns, The Originals

The sarita is a sacred Torajan cloth made with wax resist-dyed patterns. Sarita cloths are believed to be mystical in origin and are indicative of high status, bringing wealth to the family that owns them. In the past, both Toraja men and women wore the #sarita as a hip wrap; this is the first time this type of cloth has been produced in many decades among the Karutaun To Mangki.

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Textiles

Threads of Life Around Indonesia

The forests of East Kalimantan hold Indonesia`s last wild rattan palms. Palms, Forests, Rattan, Challenges, Crafts, Design, Wicker, Palmas

The forests of East Kalimantan hold Indonesia`s last wild rattan palms.