Sumba ikat: how it is made and how to buy it well
The island's famous hand-woven textiles, and how to support the weavers.
Sumba's ikat is one of the most admired textiles in Indonesia. The pattern is created before weaving: bundles of thread are tied and dyed again and again, often with natural colours from plants, then woven on a backstrap loom. A large cloth can take months.
Where to see it
Prailiu in Waingapu and Rende in the south-east are known weaving villages. You will also see weavers in many villages of the west.
How to buy
Buy directly from the weaver when you can. Ask how it was dyed: natural dyes take longer and cost more. Machine-printed copies exist and are much cheaper. Do not bargain hard on a piece that took months of work.
Meaning
Motifs carry meaning: horses, crocodiles, roosters and ancestral figures appear in cloths used for ceremonies, gifts and funerals. Ask the weaver to tell you the story of the piece.
Guides
Best time to visit Sumba and what the weather is like
Dry season, rainy season and what each means for beaches, waterfalls and roads.
How to get to Sumba and get around the island
Airports, flights from Bali, ferries, distances and why most visitors hire a car with a driver.
Respect and etiquette in Sumba's villages
Marapu, guestbooks, photos and gifts: how to be a welcome visitor.
Sumba in 3 days: a route for the west
Three days around Tambolaka, Kodi and West Sumba: lagoons, megalithic villages and waterfalls.
Sumba in 5 days: west and east
Five days crossing the island from Tambolaka to Waingapu, with the highlights of both sides.
Sumba in 7 days: the complete route
A full week to see Sumba slowly, including the remote south and north coasts.
Surfing in Sumba: where and when
Reef breaks, empty bays and what to know before paddling out in Sumba.
Pasola: Sumba's horseback spear ritual
What the Pasola is, where it happens and how to watch it respectfully.
How much does a trip to Sumba cost?
What you will spend on in Sumba and how to plan your budget.
Health and safety in Sumba
Hospitals, insurance, mosquitoes, the sea and the roads: what to know before you go.
Sumba or Bali? An honest comparison
Crowds, flights, healthcare, culture and nature: where each island wins.