Ikkat - A Tradition of Finesse and Craftsmanship
Although several traditional Odishan sarees are used during weddings; Ikkat as well as Nuapatni sarees are very popular among modern brides. These designs originate from Bargarh and are available in a wide variety of colors. They can indeed become a beautiful part of any bridal trousseau. The Ikat technique allows the weaver to prepare precisely the pattern of colors on the finished fabric by wrapping sections of the yarn with rubber strips before dipping it in select dyes. The rubber strips used for tying are a modern innovation replacing the traditional method of tying with coarse cotton thread. Bindings or substances resisting dye penetration are applied over the fibres in pre-determined patterns and then the threads are dyed. Alteration of bindings and using more than one colour for dyeing produces a multi-coloured thread effect. Removal of bindings and subsequent weaving of the threads would form the desired pattern woven in the fabric. The determining characteristic...