Traditional ikat weaving is practiced across the West Timorese interior, and the textiles are among the most striking in Indonesia. The dyeing and weaving process is entirely manual: threads are tied and dipped in natural dyes before weaving, creating patterns that emerge only as the cloth takes shape on the loom. The work is almost exclusively done by women.
The villages of the highlands around Soe are among the best places to observe this tradition. You can visit weavers at work, see the stages of the process, and buy finished cloths directly. Quality and price vary considerably — take time to compare before buying. The cloth makes for a meaningful souvenir, and purchasing directly from the weaver ensures the money goes to the person who made it.