Bali Block Print Sarong, Tropical, One Sarong in an Assorted Colour

• The colour is rich and warm: a saturated red ground, with the blue-violet print sitting softly against it rather than shouting.
• The pattern runs right across the cloth, so it reads as a pattern wherever it falls, whether wrapped, knotted or draped.
• The fringe at the ends is tied in small knots, and it swings nicely when the sarong is tied at the hip.
• Rayon drapes easily and falls in soft folds, so the cloth follows your shape rather than standing away from it.
• It is sold in an assorted colour, so the shade you receive may differ from the red shown here.

This sarong is made of 100% rayon and comes to us from Indonesia, from Bali. Rayon has a smooth, cool hand and a fluid fall, which is why it has long been a favourite for warm-weather wraps. It is silk-like in feel, though it is not silk. Wraps like this belong to a long tradition of everyday dress across Indonesia, Malaysia and the Pacific islands, and the word itself comes from the Malay 'sarung'. It has since travelled the world as easy resort wear.

Tie it higher for a simple dress, or fold it over a swimsuit as a cover-up. Keep it rolled in a bag for the day. At home it can drape over a sofa arm, hang as a bright panel on a wall, or serve as a light throw. One cloth with many uses is a sensible thing to own.

The sarong measures 155 cm long by 120 cm wide, a generous size that wraps comfortably around the waist with enough cloth left over for a knot.

Printed rayon is best treated gently. Bright dyes can run on the first wash, so wash it separately in cool water with a mild detergent, don't wring it, and dry it flat or in the shade. Iron on the reverse of the print at a moderate setting. Do check the item's own care label, as the exact guidance can vary.