Endek: the cloth you will see most
Endek is woven across the island, usually in cotton or silk. Traditional endek is patterned by tying and dyeing the threads before weaving, so the design is built into the thread. Much endek sold today is printed on finished cloth, so check which kind you are buying. The method is close to ikat, the resist-dyeing technique used across parts of Asia.
The usual buying question is whether the cloth is hand-woven or printed. If you want to see the weaving itself, the craft villages page explains which areas are worth a visit.
Geringsing: the double ikat of Tenganan
Geringsing is woven in Tenganan, a village in Karangasem with its own customs. It is a double ikat cloth, which means both the warp and the weft threads are tied and dyed before weaving.
Songket and the weaving villages of the east
Songket is woven with gold or silver thread added to the cloth, so the pattern catches the light. It is woven in more than one part of Bali, so ask the seller where the cloth was made and whether the thread is real metal or a metallic-look thread. Real metal and imitation thread can look similar in a shop and behave very differently after washing.
Poleng: the black and white check
Poleng is a black and white checked cloth. The same check pattern is sold as ordinary fabric, so ask the seller before assuming which kind you are holding. See carved guardian figures and their wrapping.
Temple dress: sarong and sash
Shorts and bare shoulders are generally not appropriate.
At a village event, clean and modest clothing is the simplest choice, and dressing in the local style is usually something a host invites you to do.
Buying cloth: a common mistake
Ask whether the colour is fast, and do a small test on a hidden edge if you can. Where cloth is sold in bulk, the markets page explains how to compare stalls before you commit. For batik sold in a shop, check whether the pattern was drawn, stamped or printed before you pay.
Questions people ask
Can I wear a sarong I bought at a market to a temple?
Rules differ between temples, so check at the gate.
Where to go next
- For the places where the cloth is made, read the craft villages page.
- For cloth worn at ceremonies and the dates that bring it out, read the festivals page.