Want to know more about the Ikkat fabric? Then check out the blog. All your questions are answered here.
Ikkat is a traditional Tie & dye technique that involves binding yarns with rubber called Tie and dyeing them before weaving called as Dye. This method creates intricate patterns with a characteristic “blurry” design on the fabric due to the difficulty in aligning dyed yarns perfectly. This method is followed on cotton and silk fiber. Shop the latest ikkat silk sarees and ikkat cotton sarees at jrshandlooms.com
Ikkat is an ancient textile technique with origins difficult to pinpoint till now. This ikat process has been used historically across various regions in Cambodia, Indonesia, and India. In India mainly in Telangana, Orissa, and Rajasthan. In the past through the trade routes, it was used as currency on the Silk Road. The term “ikat” comes from the Malay word “mengikat,” meaning “to tie.”
Ikkat weaving is a process of tie & dye techniques, practiced in India, Indonesia, and Japan. In India, notable regions include Telangana (Pochampally), Odisha (Sambalpuri), and Gujarat (Patola). Each region offers unique styles like the intricate Double Ikat of Gujarat need heavy labor work with complex design resulting in high prices and the vibrant, symbolic motifs of Odisha. In Telangana, Pochampally ikat is available in cotton and silk sarees. These areas preserve and innovate Ikkat techniques, ensuring the craft’s rich legacy continues.
Double ikat is a complex and time-consuming weaving process where both the warp and weft yarns are resist-dyed before weaving. In the single ikat, only the warp is dyed. Also, the fabric weight is light compared to a single ikkat. This method is practiced in only a few places, including India, Japan, and Indonesia, and results in intricate and highly detailed patterns. More details: Single vs Double Ikat.
Understanding the specialty of Ikat fabric is essential. Unlike other fabrics with distinct front and back textures, Ikat looks the same on both sides due to its unique tie-and-dye technique. This is your first clue to identifying Ikat. The characteristic “blurry” patterns result from the resist-dye process, where it’s challenging for weavers to maintain perfectly straight lines when placing yarn side by side before setting the yarn on the handloom. Ikat designs are often intricate and symmetrical, giving them a distinctive appearance that sets them apart from other textile patterns.
Ikkat sarees are adorned with a captivating array of motifs and patterns. These intricate designs, achieved through the resist-dyeing or Tie & Dye technique, come alive on the fabric even before the weaving begins.
Different Motifs on Saree
Echoes of Tradition: Conch shells, peacocks, and lotus flowers.
Geometric Harmony: Stripes, squares, and other geometric patterns create a sense of order and balance, often contrasting beautifully with floral designs.
Ikkat Saree Parts
The Body: This is the main expanse of the saree and can be plain, checkered, or embellished with a variety of motifs. Imagine peacocks strutting across the fabric, traditional temple designs adding a touch of grandeur, or a mesmerizing play of geometric patterns.
The Borders: Framing the saree body with 5-inch or 10-inch borders, sometimes come in various widths, from a simple single border to a more elaborate double with ornate temple designs. They also come with rich Kanchipuram border or Kaddi border.
The Pallu: The pallu comes with echo design elements from the body and borders.
Ikkat refers to the dyeing technique (Tie & Dye) used to create motifs. patterns, designs while Pochampally sarees are a specific type of ikkat saree from Pochampally Telangana, known for their unique geometric patterns, floral designs and vibrant colors. Pochampally sarees are one of the most well-known types of ikkat sarees in India.
Patola sarees are expensive because it is a labor-intensive and time-consuming double ikat weaving process. It needs high skill and precision. The intricate patterns on the saree body, the use of high-quality silk fiber contribute to their high cost. The sketching of geometric and intricate patterns on the saree body requires time and skill. Generally, only warp goes for the tie and dye process. But in the Patola sarees, both the weft and warp yarn go through the tie and dye process.
Pure silk has a slightly irregular texture and shows a soft glow with subtle color changes, have a shiny glare without color variation. Pure silk is more expensive and will dissolve in chlorine-based detergent due to its protein structure, unlike impure silk. Rubbing pure silk between your fingers will cause it to warm up and reveal its delicate, whereas synthetic silk will stay cool. Burning Small pieces of pure silk will smell like burnt hair and produce black, powdery ash, while impure silk will smell like burning plastic and leave a hard residue.
The cost of an ikkat silk saree varies widely based on factors such as the complexity of the design, the quality of the silk, and the reputation of the weaver. Prices can range from around ₹3,000 to over ₹50,000.
Ikkat cotton sarees are generally more affordable than silk ones, with prices typically ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000, depending on the intricacy of the design and the quality of the cotton used.