Woven Fiber Ikat Sarong

This woven fiber ikat sarong was made in the early 20th century in the Philippines. It is made out of fiber from the abaca plant. The abaca is a close relative of the banana tree.

The fiber for this sarong is made out of leaves, unlike tapa cloth from the Pacific Islands, which is made from the bark of the tree’s trunk. The Philippines fiber cloth also differs from tapa cloth because it is woven, unlike the tapa cloth which is beaten flat. Since this fiber is woven, it can be dyed using typical dye techniques, like ikat.