The ceremonial waist tie or 'ikek pinggang' is an important part of the Minangkabau men's wardrobe. Most are worn wrapped around the waist and tied at the left hip, with the ends hanging down the front and side of the left leg. Some though, are worn tied in front in an archaic style as seen in Hindu-Buddhist era statues. Minangkabau people see the waist tie as a symbol of a male's ties to his nieces and nephews, a relationship that for the matrilineal Minang is as important as to ones own children.
