Tais Maruka

Tais maruka is a three-part woman’s tubular skirt worn by young women for traditional ceremonies.The primary characteristic of the maruka textile is that it has a centerfield containing alternating colored stripes – usually red and blue-black. The maruka textile would be the first woman’s sarong that a young woman would be allowed to make.

The primary motif on this textiles is called umek po’at which means to a python. Snakes are very significant in local belief systems throughtout the archipelago as they are able to transform by regenerating new skin.

This textile is lovely hung on a wall or used as a throw at the bottom of a bed or over a chair.

Warp ikat, supplementary warp patterning, three panels stiched together and sewn as a tube, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed, woven by Dolorosa Moi in Malaka, Timor, 2019.
147 x 62 cm / 58 x 24.5 in