Ancient Patterns and Celebrating Success

Young women in this remote area of Sulawesi will create two of these textiles at the same time, tying the pattern onto threads, dyeing the threads and then weaving this into cloth. It will take up to 2 months to complete the work and the income she receives for this is substantial to help her family.

The colorfast black and white is achieved by repeated dying in tannins from Homolanthus sp. and mud – this black and white design predates the use of reds and blues among this ethnic group the To Mangki Karataun in the mountainous area of Sulawesi.

The primary ikat motif is called totandung motif is said to be the oldest motif known to the To Mangki Karautaun people. No other motif may be combined with the totandung which is said to represent the sentiment of celebrating and appreciating our successes.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, single panel, open fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Mamuju, Sulawesi, 2017. Size 194 x 19 cm / 76.5 x 7.5 in