Ikat silk

Ikat is a word from Indonesian and Javan languages, and it is used to refer to a dyeing technique similar to tie-dye in which either the warp or weft fibres are tied in a specific pattern before being dyed. Alternating the patterns of bindings and the use of several colours produces elaborate, multi-coloured patterns. At the points where the different dyed sections meet, carefully controlled amounts of colour merge with one another randomly creating subtle, slightly blurred patterns that are unique: every dyeing will result in a slightly different appearance, even if the same colours are used. The dyed threads can then be woven. The difference between tie-dye and ikat is that in ikat the dyeing takes place before the fabric is woven.