Bemban II

Collectable Premium Borneo Polo Shirt by BORNEONATIVE® - Heritage Wear™ :  Redefining Borneo Arts! 

Rattan or 'wai' (in Penan) or "wi" (in Iban) plays a very important part in the lives of the Borneo tribes. It is used to weave strong and durable baskets (raga/lanji/uyut/belanyat), mats (tikai/mang) and bangles (selungan) just to name a few. The dark colored designs and patterns are actually rattan dyed with ash which is buried in mud for the dye to set in permanently.

Certain mats—as well as other basketry items such as baskets and hats—may carry or refer to entire pictorial narratives. They tell about mythical heroes, spirits, and Gods and have profound social and ritual significance. Among the Iban, certain patterned mats are infused with spiritual power associated with motifs, such as the dragon, that they carry. Made by famous plaitresses, these power-ful mats are given “praise names” (julok), and sleeping on such a mat, covered in a powerful patterned pua’ blanket, is said to produce important dreams