Traditionally in the Ngadha region, everyday clothing is a plain, stark indigo sarong. But there is also a type of ikat, often called Bajawa ikat after its capital, that is decorated with primitive-type designs and using only indigo dye. One characteristic of this ikat is the very intense blue, seen nowhere else in the archipelago; this comes from the high concentration of indigo due to long and repeated steepings of the cloth into the tincture. It also means that the motifs, made by ties on the warp, should have come out white but are more often of a very pale blue because the pigment bath has had time to seep into the yarn beyond the resist of the ties. The other characteristic of Ngadha ikat is in the motifs. Horses (jara) are a frequent one, as they are a sign of high social rank; this ties up with the fact that decorated cloths were traditionally worn only by respected clan members. The particularity here is that they are executed as stick figures, by which they resemble some prehistoric cave drawings. This gives them a strikingly 'primitive' appearance and makes them highly sought-after items. Most of the ikat on Flores is produced in villages located in the temperate, middle elevation zones – where indigo can be cultivated. The best known are Jerebuu and Langa, in a valley on the east side of the Inierie volcano, and Lopijo and Toni, tucked behind the rim of mountains that surrounds Bajawa, north of the same volcano. The latter are still very isolated and conservative, still using indigenous cotton and indigo only. The cloths from these localities are admired throughout the Ngadha region – and nowadays in New York and Singapore as well.
traditionally in the ngadha region everyday clothing is a plain stark indigo sarong but there is also a type of ikat often called bajawa ikat after its capital that is decorated with primitive-type designs and using only indigo dye one characteristic of this ikat is the very intense blue seen nowhere else in the archipelago; this comes from the high concentration of indigo due to long and repeated steepings of the cloth into the tincture it also means that the motifs made by ties on the warp should have come out white but are more often of a very pale blue because the pigment bath has had time to seep into the yarn beyond the resist of the ties the other characteristic of ngadha ikat is in the motifs horses (jara) are a frequent one as they are a sign of high social rank; this ties up with the fact that decorated cloths were traditionally worn only by respected clan members the particularity here is that they are executed as stick figures by which they resemble some prehistoric cave drawings this gives them a strikingly 'primitive' appearance and makes them highly sought-after items most of the ikat on flores is produced in villages located in the temperate middle elevation zones – where indigo can be cultivated the best known are jerebuu and langa in a valley on the east side of the inierie volcano and lopijo and toni tucked behind the rim of mountains that surrounds bajawa north of the same volcano the latter are still very isolated and conservative still using indigenous cotton and indigo only the cloths from these localities are admired throughout the ngadha region – and nowadays in new york and singapore as well