Ikat

I have a confession. I had absolutely no idea what 'ikat' is all about. I've been seeing the design announced in a lot of fashion magazines and retail promotions lately as a hot trend this winter, but I really don't know what defines it as a style, where it comes from or why it's coming up so often. So with blog idea in hand, I did some research. Here's what I found, in case you're feeling a bit lost in the ikat world like me.

Ikat is an Indonesian word meaning "to bind" or "to tie" for the method of using resist dyeing (similar to tie-dye) and then weaving the threads together. In other words, the material is dyed first and then woven into the final fabric pattern. Many world cultures use the ikat technique and it represents just as many things to those peoples. Some believe that the fabric has magical powers because of its difficulty. You can read more about ikat and its history here.

What I see, from a design perspective; ikat has a structured, linear, repetitive pattern which makes the motif seem very ritualistic and tribal, although abstract enough for wide appeal. The colors are bright and bold, often pleasingly complementary. And the designer's ever-favorite negative (white) areas are as important as the color in the patterns. My hunch is that the onset of winter's gray coldness coupled with the downtrodden economy makes the exotic warm comfort of the ikat pattern right on trend. Here are a few of my recent favorites, both traditional and contemporary. - l.o.d.