What is ikat print

Ikat fabrics are beautiful, intriguing and always in style. While other types of patterning come in and out of fashion, there is something about ikat that manages to always stay relevant. This has been the case around the world and throughout history. Ikat pronounced: E—cot is a method for coloring fabric in patterns by resist dyeing. The pattern is not applied to the surface of a finished fabric, nor is it woven into the fabric structurally. The dye then colors the yarn everywhere except under the binding.

After dyeing, the bindings are removed and the pattern appears undyed on a colored ground. When dyeing is complete, the yarn is then woven into fabric, often in a relatively simple structure and often in a density that highlights the warp. This is what makes ikat so interesting when compared to other types of resist dyeing. The pattern is made to the actual threads before being constructed into a fabric. Ikat is often only two colors, the color of the yarn and the color of the dye.

However, many are made with multiple colors, making the process that much more laborious because you need to bind and dye color 1, then color 2, then color 3. For example, in this fabric, the white is the color of the yarn. The designer would have bound the white areas first and then dyed the warp yellow. It is interesting to note that every Ikat Weaving group has its own distinct patterns, styles and choices of colour. Endek is an economically successful version of Ikat from Indonesia, as it has been taken from its fabric form and developed into products.

Originally considered a court-based sacred fabric in Bali, it is now Indonesia's most commercialised resist-dyed fabric. Fashion trends may come and go, but ikat fabrics have always stood the test of time. Many designers and high street brands replicate the look of ikat with printing or a jacquard woven fabric. An original ikat can be easily recognised from the faux printed ones, by either looking up close, or simply turning the fabric over! Since ikats are woven on looms, you can be certain that it is a genuine ikat if the same design is on the inside of the fabric as well.

The designer Oscar de la Renta has used the ikat style many time in his design like the one above from his fall collection. Ikat continues to be a designer favourite as it finds its way into dresses, shirts, fashion accessories and upholstery.

Vinita Passary's concept clothing label Translate is centred around traditional ikat motifs which she uses to create trendy summer outfits and interior products. Now that you have learnt all about Ikat fabric, how about giving it a try. Our New Collection Of Ikat Fabrics hand-woven in Thailand with intricate designs like stripes, ebony diamonds and flecks at our online shop.

You are bound to love them all! To receive monthly updates of our latest posts, please sign up to our monthly newsletter. If you like this article please share it using the tweet buttons below and throughout the article! When a final fabric is ready, you see apparent blurriness on them; it is a salient characteristic of Ikat fabric.

The blurriness is the result of the difficulty a weaver's faces while weaving the yarns together to make a cloth. Indeed, Ikat is an elaborate dying process. It is not a print on fabric, nor a fabric weaved out of different colored or complexed yarn, but, it is formed by dying warp and weft before weaving it. The fine the Ikat fabric is the less blurriness is. Such fabrics come expensive because of intensive craftsmanship and time required.

Orissa Ikat is regarded as the best and is famous all around. If you believe, it is said that Orissa ikat dates back to the 12 th century, implying that it has reached its pinnacle of perfection now. It is interesting to note here that how a craft with its origins in the small village of India has crossed borders and now coming up as more beautiful and brighter with varied color choices. Wearing Ikat is indeed a matter of grace.

Also, if you purchase Indian Ikat fabric , you are definitely promoting the Indian craft as well as helping the unrecognized and underpaid artisans.