Mordant

Indonesian weaver from Flores Barat (see Threads of Life) coming out of the forest with a load of loba (Symplocos spp.) leaves.  The leaves are used as a mordant to fix the natural dyes that they use to color their textiles. Like the one that she is wearing. She has a big smile on her face because loba trees are quite rare where she lives, and she is usually forced to buy the leaves at an exorbitant price in the market. [NOTE: The bundle that she is carrying easily contains enough mordant for several years.]