Dive into the diversity of cultures in Indonesia, one of which is the Ikat Weaving Culture in West Papua. Tourists will also find this ikat cloth when tracing batik in Maluku, Nusa Tenggara and Papua.
As one of the owners of ikat weaving in Indonesia, West Papua presents a unique and different motif from other locations.
Ikat Weaving History
Talking about ikat weaving culture in West Papua will be interesting to trace ikat weaving history that has spread until now. Ikat knows in the Maybrat culture whose livelihood is gardening and simple raising livestock.
This ikat weaving origin calls “Kain Timor” because history records that this cloth was brought by missionaries from Timor, Nusa Tenggara. They came to become teachers in Papua and West Papua.
However, it is not just teaching and carrying cloth. These immigrants from Timor also taught how to make the ikat weaving technique. As a result, many people are now developing Ikat Weaving Culture in West Papua.
Today many children are involved in making this cloth. Mothers teach these skills to their children so that later this craft can be preserved by the next generation.
Tie Weaving Technique
Ikat is a fabric woven from strands of weft or warp threads that have been previously tied and dipped in natural dyes. Before weaving, the threads are wrapped (tied) with a plastic rope according to the desired decorative pattern or pattern.
When dyed, the part of the yarn tied with the plastic string will not be stained. Looking closely, the process of ikat weaving in West Papua is complex.
So, do not be surprised if these clothes has a high price. UNESCO even recognizes it as one of the original cultural heritages of Indonesia.
Making woven fabrics is complex because it is done manually with traditional tools. The manufacturing process can take months for one piece of woven cloth. Not only that but the ingredients used are made from natural ingredients.
Ikat Weaving Process
The ikat weaving technique is carried out in the following stages:
1. Spinning Yarn
This stage winds the white thread on a pliant and then transfers it back to a threaded adjuster. In this process, the yarn is also reinforced using warm rice instead of starch to make the string easier to weave.
2. Motive Making
The next stage is the process of determining the decoration. In addition, the length and width of the fabric are also determined. Finally, the technique is tying the yarn spun with a plastic rope to form a pattern/motif.
Tie the plastic rope to the threads with the help of a pattern board made of transparent plastic. Thus there will be a part that is covered in plastic so that it is not exposed to color.
3. Colouring
After being tied one by one with a plastic rope, the next step is to give colour by dyeing the thread in the desired colour. Colour dyeing can be done repeatedly depending on the number of colours in the pattern.
After drying, the threads are set aside and arranged according to the pattern. The part is a necessary process that requires a lot of concentration because if any one yarn is not put according to the mark, the whole design will fall apart.
4. Weaving Process
The final step is weaving the threads to make woven fabrics according to a predetermined motif. This weaving process uses a non-machine loom or what is often called ATBM.
That is the very famous ikat weaving culture in West Papua. So seeing the process of ikat weaving in West Papua that is quite complicated, it is natural that all generations of the nation should respect it.
