"The patterning technique known here as ENDEK is actually a variant of the ikat process widely practiced throughout Indonesia. "Ikat" (Indonesian: "bundle," from mengikat "to tie") is a complicated and time-consuming resist-dye technique in which undyed yarns are mounted on a frame in bundles according to the pattern and tied in places with short lengths of banana bast or plastic strips. During the dyeing process, the tied areas resist the absorption of dye and remain uncolored; repeated tyings and dyeings can result in a multi-hued pattern of great intricacy. For a long time endek cloths were solely the prerogative of the princely families in Bali. During the 1930's, the tradition of endek production and use began to detach itself from the closed world of the courts and underwent a renewal. All endek cloths are still handwoven, and are therefore especially appreciated in industrialized countries where people must usually do with machine-made goods. Buyers who are not quality-minded often allow themselves to be dazzled by the low prices of cheap imitation endek prints from Java or Lombok, not realizing the enormous amount of work that goes into the carefully tied bundles of yarn and the dyed patterning of genuine handwoven ENDEK fabrics." Our ENDEK scarves come direct from Sideman Village in Karangasem, Bali. The combination of cotton and silk gives the fabric a slight metallic sheen and a smooth touch.
