Hand weaving
Traditional wooden looms.
A Sasak village in central Lombok known for generations for hand-weaving songket and ikat cloth on traditional wooden looms. Local custom says a girl may not marry until she has mastered weaving, so she learns it from childhood from her mother and grandmother. Visitors sit with the weavers in front of their houses and watch cloth made thread by thread in fine, colourful geometric patterns, a large piece taking weeks. You can try weaving yourself, dress in traditional Sasak costume for photos and buy cloth in the shops. The visit is usually free, and the local guide expects a small tip. Shop prices are negotiable, and genuine handwoven pieces cost more than printed ones. It lies on the road between the airport and Mataram, an easy stop on arrival or departure day. Ask about the difference between hand and machine cloth before buying.
Traditional wooden looms.
Master weaving first.
For photos.
Jonggat, central Lombok, on the airport road
A large songket can take weeks or months depending on the pattern's detail, which is why it costs far more than printed cloth.