The
first kind of textile that you will find in Bali is Ikat, which is popular
among tourists and locals alike. There is every imaginable style and quality
that you can chance upon throughout the island, but it is surprising that batik
is actually produced in central Java and then shipped to Bali. Bali's own
home-produced cloth is a weft ikat called endek. Ikat is made by tying the weft
threads of a cloth before it is woven and then dying them so that the tied
areas do not absorb the dye.
The cloth is then woven and the pattern, created
by the tying of the threads, emerges. This cloth is not very popular with
visitors but is indispensable to the locals. Authentic ikat is made of silk but
cotton and synthetic yarns are also widely used. Also, keep a look out for kain
prada, fabrics woven of silk or cotton and decorated with silver or gold
threads or gold leaf. These colorful kerchiefs are worn by temple girls during
festivals and take three weeks to a month to weave.
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