Sumbanese ikat weavers still use natural indigo paint and minerals.

Traditional Sumba's ikats are colored with natural dyes.

The blue color is derived from the indigo ( Indigofera tinctoria ).

The cotton thread is dyed several times before final weaving.

Earlier designed patterns are marked by the plant's overlay on deyd yarn.
The warf yarn dyed by indigo dries for several days.

It is then dyed by a mineral paints from red to brownish tones.

The entire warf has to dry for a few weeks time before it will be installed on a loom.

Today, when the weaving process still takes several months, the men and women work together creating magical textile.