Women in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) must have weaving skill. Local people even have their own expression 'lamin no to nesek siyong tau swai' or in English 'those who cannot weave are not women'. Weaving has become their essential activity since they are young girls until they get married. 

NTB has two islands populated by three tribes. Every city in NTB has its own weaving pattern which is different and unique. However, many are not famous even though NTB woven fabric became the official clothes of leaders attending ASEAN Summit in Bali in 2003. 

To promote the woven fabric, several days ago Ballroom Mulia Hotel in Jakarta was turned into NTB weaving region. Traditional weaving loom, weaving cloth, and modern apparel using NTB woven fabric were exhibited. 

The event entitled Lombok-Sumbawa Ethnic Fashion 2012 was closed with fashion show from four designers. A Muslim fashion designer, Irna Mutiara, said some of NTB had not been explored. For her collections, she chooses traditional weaving patterns, such as geometric, plaid, and stripes. 

Irna always use woven fabric bought directly from NTB. However, she admitted that the original NTB weaving clothes were too thick. Thus, she modify the fabric by using thinner thread.

Another designer, Deden Siswanto, shows modern side of NTB woven fabric through his collection. He does not cut the original pattern to exposed the beauty of woven fabric.

"NTB weave is different," Deden said. He said that thewoven fabric was softer with wide varieties of colors..

The Head of Dekranasda, Robiatul Adawiyah, said Dekranasda would keep developing NTB traditional clothes, such as promoting local designers or encorage the weaver to create new pattern. 

One of local designer, Linda Hamidy Grander, admitted that it was not easy to teach the weavers to make good quality woven fabric. "It is also not easy to encourage them to make more modern pattern," she said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika