The people of the Islands have a common language (Lamaholot) and share their cultures. These Islands do however; have subtle differences in dialect, social institutions and textiles traditions do occur.
The traditional textiles of Lembata - particularly its framed bride wealth cloths have exist for many generations. Many of the textiles in Lembata Island are highly valued ceremonial pieces. Every peace of textile has its own meaning and is more than just skilled peace of artwork. They are considered carries of cultural identity and heritage.
Places like Atadei, Labala bay and Lamalera are well known for their ikat art which has identical patterns and motifs of human figures, interpreted symbolic mantra rays, sharks (mokung) and boats (tenar). While in Ile Api the patterns and motifs tell more about the landscapes. The people of these areas are corn and cassava farmers who also fish on the side. Their art contains ceremonial symbols known as patola and figures of humans as well as those of marine plants and animals.
The cloths are used for ceremonial purposes and they have been made exclusively from locally grown and hand spun cotton. These must dyed with locally gathered dyes such as indigo and morinda citrifola (Mustard fruit tree or Mengkudu. ). Those cloths are than used as wedding gift exchanges for the bride, they also can be used for burial.
Many of the weavers we work with, it is an emotional experience seeing their cloths going for sale rather than circulating around their villages as gifts. But there is also a sense of pride that the cloths are being sold overseas and that outsiders are interested and concerned with their art. Their one expressed wish is that the cloths are truly one valued by their new owners. Not for their price but for what they represent.
