Tuesday, November 04, 2014

The Balinese Textiles


The sheer beauty and artistry of traditional Balinese textiles have made them famous throughout the world. since  time immemorial, traditional Balinese textiles have played a major role in the daily life and ceremonies of the Balinese people. Not only are they used to male clothes but they are also status symbols and an indicator of the wearer's station in life.

In the past, women from royal families competed with each other to create the most dazzling textiles using sumptuous materials. It was also believed that textiles were endowed with supernatural powers that protected the wearer from evil influences. they also function as a link between the present and the next world in religious festivals. For example in cremations, hundreds of meters of expensive cloth were turned to ashes to accompany the soul of the dead in its journey to the next world.

The womenfolk of Bali are the keepers of the knowledge of making textiles, which are handed down from one generation to another. Such knowledge included the secret ingredients of certain dyes and a vast collection of sacred motifs. As important duty of a Balinese mother is to pass her precious knowledge of textiles of her daughter.

Balinese Traditional Cloth





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