We recognize 7 basic types of patterns in selendangs and sarongs. These you
see depicted next to this text. If you click in the picture you get more examples of a pattern.
Sarongs are not only baby slings, they can also be used for a great variety of other things. Sarongs are
larger than selendangs and can also be used as shawl, to lie on at the beach, as a skirt, and there are
many more possibilities!
Uni patterns are patterns that are regularly distributed all along the cloth.
The background colours are purple, red, blue, green, black or a golden brown. The motif on the background
varies. The typical Indonesian flowers make the sarong complete.
These are sarongs in a variety of brown-gold colours, sometimes with black or
blue as a complementary colour. The background is lighter than the foreground.
These sarongs are fully printed on one longs side, the other side is mainly
one colour. "Tongues" made with flowers, leaves and birds stretch from one side to the other. Background
colours: red, blue, black or green.
These are selendangs. Smaller than sarongs, more originally intended for
carrying. With coloured stripes on both ends (not hemmed). The patterns are flowery with leaves and birds.
In these pictures the top is what is the main body of the selendang, the smaller bit is an ornamental
strip on each end, in a complementary colour, making the selendang have two main colours.
The more formal looking selendang which we have called "garden uni" has a
background design, more or less sculptured which is a main feature of the sling. Usually geometric. In
this type there is no border between the body of the sling and the stripes.
