Panjang / Length: 164cm

Lebar/ Chest: 54cm

Gringsing cloth is one of the ancient cultural heritages of Bali that still persists to this day. The word "gringsing" consists of "gring," which means 'pain,' and "sing," which means 'not,' so it can be interpreted that gringsing cloth is a magical cloth that protects the wearer from disaster. This cloth, which originates from the village of Tenganan, Bali, uses a double ikat technique and requires an average of five years to complete. The weaving process itself takes about two months, but the process of making the double ikat motif takes a long time. Gringsing woven fabric is mentioned in the Kakawin Nagarakretagama, a work by Empu Prapañca, where it is written that the curtains on one of the chariots of Hayam Wuruk, Sri Nata Wilwatikta, are made of gringsing cloth. Until today, amidst the Tenganan Bali community, gringsing cloth is used for various ceremonies, such as religious ceremonies, tooth-filing ceremonies, and weddings. Based on the myths circulating in Balinese society, this Gringsing Cloth originated from Dewa Indra's admiration for the beauty of the night sky. From there, Dewa Indra then expressed the beauty he saw through woven motifs to his chosen people, the Tenganan community. Dewa Indra then taught women to be skilled in the technique of weaving this Gringsing Cloth, which depicts and immortalizes the beauty of stars, moon, sun, and other expanses of the sky. Eventually, dark-colored woven fabric is believed to have magical powers and is used for religious rituals.

 

Songket fabric is a Balinese cultural product that reflects the way of life of the Balinese people through decorative motifs and contains strong meanings rooted in Hindu philosophy embedded in the songket fabric. Balinese songket is woven from pure colored silk and gold thread that forms decorative patterns of various motifs, which are provided to the Balinese people of Brahmin descent, the highest caste in Hinduism.

Balinese residents often use songket for major religious ceremonies and official events, and there have been several traditional Balinese fashion competitions that require participants to wear the desired songket fabric as requested by the event organizers. Native Balinese residents sometimes still find it difficult to determine the type of songket fabric. Songket plays an important role in performing major religious ceremonies, especially the Manusa Yadnya Ceremony (weddings, metatah, and others).

The social and cultural functions of Songket have artistic and aesthetic values in its role in Balinese society, especially in Buleleng, where this woven fabric can be used to promote social harmony.