"The Enchanting Culture of Minahasa"

Thomas Sigar design,
Minahasa people inspired

Inspired by ancient weaving techniques, modern designer Thomas Sigar featured Tenun ikat Bentenan techniques in his July 10, 2011 runway show titled "The Enchanting Culture of Minahasa."

Two hundred years ago, hand weave disappeared from the Minahasa people of the North Sulawesi region of Indonesia.  It is believed that only a few pieces of cloth remain in the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands - an irony, as the Minahasa handweave disappeared under the European Christianization of the region.

Since 2005, working with the Art Institute of Culture of North Sulawesi, Sigar has sought to revive the ancient ikat technique believed to have been used by the Minahasa.  "Tenun ikat Bentenan" can be simplistically thought of as a Bentenan (North Sulawesi) "tie-dye."

Sigar's recent designs were inspired by stone carvings dating back 3,000 years, found at an archeological site in the North Sulawesi region.  The stone was the gathering place of the tribe for conflict resolution in a process ending with the chant "Mina Esa" ("Forever One").  Some of Sigar's patterns were achieved through woven silk patola, others through hand prints on chiffon.

This story on the revival of an ancient ikat technique in Indonesia is exactly the kind of story that inspires my work at Indigo Handloom.  Our efforts today to expand the use of handwoven cloth like batik silk will preserve India's ancient textile traditions for future generations.  How much better to wear these beautiful and unique fabrics today than to have to visit them in a museum tomorrow.