Travel info · Handmade in Mallorca
Roba de llengües: Mallorca's "tongue" fabrics and where they are still woven
Last checked: October 2026
The fabrics with their blurred tongue pattern are part of Mallorca's identity. Today they are still woven by three family firms – in Pollença, Lloseta and Santa Maria del Camí. You can shop at all three, and at some you can watch the weaving.
Quick answer
Where can you buy genuine Roba de llengües in Mallorca?
Directly from the three mills that still make it: Teixits Vicens in Pollença (since 1854), Teixits Riera in Lloseta (since 1896) and Artesania Tèxtil Bujosa in Santa Maria del Camí (since 1949). All three sell fabric by the metre, cushions, table linen and bags. Since April 2026 the production technique has been protected by the island council as intangible cultural heritage.
- What
- ikat weaving: the yarn is dyed in sections before weaving
- Mills
- Pollença, Lloseta, Santa Maria del Camí
- Watch
- guided tours at Vicens, working process visible at Bujosa
- Route
- all three are on or near the Ma-13 Palma–Alcúdia
- Protection
- intangible cultural heritage of the island council since April 2026
- Sundays
- all three closed
The technique
Why the fabric looks the way it does
For Roba de llengües, the warp threads are tied and dyed before weaving. The tied sections do not take the dye. During weaving the threads shift slightly against each other – creating the soft, flame-like edges that gave the fabric its name, "tongues". The technique has been documented in Mallorca since the 18th century and is known internationally as ikat.
The three mills
Where the fabric is made
-
Teixits Vicens
A family firm in its fifth generation. On guided tours of the workshop you can see the looms at work. The shop sells fabric by the metre, cushions, tablecloths, curtains, bags and clothing; made-to-measure sewing is available in its own workshop.
- Rotonda de Can Berenguer s/n, Pollença
- Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–20:00, Sat 10:00–14:00 (according to Moda Artesana)
-
Teixits Riera
The family started in Biniamar and now weaves in Lloseta. It offers more than 70 designs, plus bags, belts and espadrilles made from its own fabric. There is also an online shop.
- Carrer Major 50, Lloseta
- Mon–Fri 09:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00
-
Artesania Tèxtil Bujosa
Bujosa weaves traditional fabrics on old looms. Visitors can watch the working process and shop on site.
- Carrer Bernat de Santa Eugènia 53, Santa Maria del Camí
- Mon–Fri 09:00–13:00 and 15:30–18:30
Route
All three mills in one day
| Stop | Drive from Palma | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bujosa, Santa Maria del Camí | about 20 minutes | morning, weekdays only |
| Riera, Lloseta | about 30 minutes | lunch break 13:00–16:00 |
| Vicens, Pollença | about 50 minutes | reopens at 16:00 |
Real or copy?
Souvenir shops sell printed fabrics and oilcloths with the tongue pattern. Genuine Roba de llengües is woven: the pattern shows on both sides, and the edges of the "tongues" are slightly frayed rather than sharply printed. Heritage protection is also meant to help against imitations.
FAQ
Questions about Roba de llengües
What is Roba de llengües?
A traditional Mallorcan fabric made with the ikat technique: the yarn is dyed in sections before weaving, which creates the typical pattern of flame-like "tongues".
Who still makes the fabric?
Three family firms: Teixits Vicens in Pollença, Teixits Riera in Lloseta and Artesania Tèxtil Bujosa in Santa Maria del Camí.
Can I watch the weaving?
Yes. Teixits Vicens offers guided tours of the workshop, and at Bujosa you can watch the working process.
Is Roba de llengües cultural heritage?
Yes. The island council declared the traditional production technique intangible cultural heritage in April 2026.
Read more
More handmade and the towns
Image credit: Roba de llengües pattern (oilcloth imitation): photo Paucabot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped