 In all of Maluku, the Tanimbars are the best known for their ikat
weaving, though the art is also practiced throughout the southern
islands of SW Maluku. While Yamdena may not actually produce the best
quality ikat in the Tanimbars, its large population and best marketing
opportunities mean it produces quite a lot of it. Once fading out of
fashion and only used for ceremonial purposes, the ikat cloth is now
also used for local government functions and modern celebrations, often
fashioned into modern pieces of clothing like jackets. The techniques
of production remain very much traditional, with the old-style looms
being used exclusively, though the thread and dyes on Yamdena now tend
to be factory-produced.
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