authentic shopping of real bali island

A beautiful piece of history in a rare form of ethnic, textile, housed under thatched roof is found in a unusual small beautiful village of Bali on the southeast coast. Desa Tenganan in Karangasem regency has a legend that it is the place which gave birth to the double ikat traditional woven cloth. While its the favorite origin story told by the natives of the village, the history itself is a little blurred over the centuries. 

Double ikat is only made in Tenganan Pengringsingan in Indonesia. The place is also famous for its baskets and calendars beautifully written on lontar leaves. Double Ikat weaving is a long complicated yet elaborate process that can take up to an year to finish even with 5 to 6 weavers involved in the process. This is why it is rare to find as you require a very skilled labor to make it. 

If you are visiting the village you can see the weaving being done in the houses of the residents, you can visit them during the day. Get yourself a collection while taking a stroll. The collection price ranges from IDR 200,000 to IDR 3,000,000 or more. The process of double ikat is 100% handmade and uses natural ingredients from dye to fabric. The cloth is sourced from Balinese cotton flower and it is picked and cleared out of any impurities before spinning. The fabrics are colored by concocting variety of plant dyes through leaves and flower extraction after being pressed from rain water they reveal the colour. Minyak buah kemiri (candlenut) for yellow dye, daun tarum releases a deep indigo hue, luwak coffee gives out a pink tint, and so on. Other than Tenganan, the only ones in the world that practice the double ikat are the people of Okinawa, Japan, and the villages in Telangana, India.

IKAT BATIK is a shop in Monkey Forest, Ubud offering Ikat and contemporary Batik line of hand-spun, hand dyed, all natural batik from the island.

Ikat Batik

Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud
+62 361 975622
www.ikatbatik.com

Arts & Crafts Shopping in Bali

Bali collection is your one stop shop set on 8-hectare near the Bali's most luxurious resorts in Nusa Dua. You can find almost all prominent brands in here from Nike to Levi's, The North face. It also hosts some of the finest dining and spa places. Great souvenir shops and boutiques such as Padi Art Market, Wikowi Art & Craft, and Bali Bagus.

It is indeed a mecca for authentic handicrafts made on the Island featuring different styles  rattan bags and sandals, batik fashion, traditional jewellery, wooden homewares and figurines, shadow puppets, to natural skincare products and more. With a million to choose from, you’re bound to leave with a basket full of Bali gems.

Bali Collection

Komplek ITDC Nusa Dua, Benoa
+62 361 771662
www.bali-collection.com

For more authentic experiences you can visit Bali's many ‘Pasar Seni’ or art markets . They are the perfect alternate to the common conventional shopping centers. These markets are usually set in semi open air outdoor complexes with beautiful stalls lined up adjacently. You can buy from kitschy souvenirs, clothing, and mementos to take home with you.

Following markets are definitely the top ones for the authentic buying of artwork, handicrafts, unique knick knacks, Balinese carvings and so much more. These are all made locally by the talented local craftsman at a price of bargains, depends on how good you are. 

Ubud Art Market

Jalan Raya Ubud, Ubud

Sukawati Art Market

Jalan Raya Sukawati, Gianyar

Kumbasari Art Market

Jalan Gajah Mada, Denpasar

If you are an art lover then you are at home in Bali. Art is indeed the second nature of Bali as it runs in the veins of Balinese culture. Ubud is the art hunter's paradise as different parts of Ubud embraces different characteristics, genre of their own. Keliki and its style of amazingly intricate sketching and colouring. There’s plenty of art waiting to be discovered, from fine to contemporary collections..

Purpa art gallery is one the most famous art gallery in Ubud. The history behind it goes back to 1970s which indeed makes it one of the oldest art gallery in Bali. I Nyoman Purpa, the man behind Purpa Art Gallery, was one of the most eminent curators and collectors in Indonesia with tremendous fine art expertise. They love to exhibit the work of legendary artists from Indonesia and some of the International artists as well who have resided and spent their time on the Island.

Walter Spies, Antonio Blanco, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, Miguel Covarrubias, Krijono, Bramasto are some of the names of the international artists that they feature. They also have a branch in Seminyak where art lovers can feed on their contemporary pieces with mix media, fun portrayals, and striking colours – away from Ubud’s traditional character.

Purpa Art Gallery Ubud

Jalan Wenara Wana, Ubud
+62 361 975 234

Purpa Art Gallery Seminyak

Jalan Mertanadi No. 22B, Kerobokan
+62 819 9940 8804
www.purpagallerybali.com

Hauntingly beautiful Balinese masks and puppets are no doubt a major part of Balinese art culture and history. However each mask or puppet has a backstory that holds sacred ritualistic value. Balinese culture has a belief that Gods are present in all things. The mask is normally considered as a medium between ancestral spirits to reside or visit the physical world, representing energies in a physical form, therefore used in processions in temple rituals and ceremonies alike.

In social entertainment way masks represent the character in the story to show case the  Bali’s culturally-rich past; namely, Barong and Rangda, two mythical characters from the Calonarang legend that depicts the forces of good and evil. Today, you can find masks that are crafted for decorative purposes – for you to take home.

If you are looking for a perfect collection, Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets is a unique attraction located in a beautiful village in Sukawati. It houses over 1,300 masks and 5,700 puppets from Indonesia and the world as well. They indeed preserve some of the most colorful pieces of thew art in its houses. Each house portrays and displays different collection of puppets and masks, contemporary to ancient and sacred. 

Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets

Jalan Tegal Bingin, Banjar Tengkulak Tengah, Kemenuh, Sukawati
+62 361 898 7493
www.maskandpuppets.com

Homewares Buying In Bali