Samarinda's most distinctive purchase is sarung Samarinda — handwoven sarongs made on traditional looms, using silk and cotton in geometric patterns derived from Kutai court traditions. You can find them in the textile sections of the markets and in dedicated weaving workshops in the Sungai Siring neighbourhood. Quality varies; the finest pieces with tight weave and deep dye take weeks to make.
Rattan goods and Dayak handicrafts — beaded bags, carved wooden objects, baskets, and weavings — come down the Mahakam from interior communities and are sold at Pasar Pagi and at small shops around the waterfront. These are genuine craft objects, not factory imports, though prices have risen as the market for Dayak art has grown internationally.