DANCING IN THE RAIN. Economic hardship and dying traditions have often forced traditional communities to sell sacred textiles to dealers and collectors. Before Threads of Life commissioned a new piece in 2009, beaded Lawobutu sarongs in Nggela region in Flores island had not been made for more than 30 years. Lawobutu, the most sacred textile in Nggela, is worn by women when they perform a dance called mur’e to evoke rain and agriculture fertility for the community. It is also put on by the oldest woman from the traditional house which is being repaired or built. During the building process, this woman adorned in a lawobutu along with clan gold jewellery will sit in the house without eating or drinking until the roof is completed. While the design of the textile varies from area to area, the beadwork generally includes an octopus along with other water animal motifs. This lawobutu in our collection was commissioned by Threads of Life in 2011.  (Information extracted from TOL’s field notes).