Fibers from abaca or pandanus leaves are stripped into small fibers that are then dried and spun into yarns for weaving. In many populations, the yarns are prepared by a technique of reserve dyeing with ligatures to produce ikat.
Fabrics made of pandanus and abaca fibers in the Philippines are best known, especially capes of Saint statues in Catholic churches, cloths of the Ifugao (Northern Luzon), and ikat floor mats of the T'boli. Floor mats of the same material can be also found in the Dusun (Brunei). In Indonesia, although these textiles have been known for a long time, they are no longer produced except for in West Papua for certain rituals or for shrouds.