Traditional Indonesian Ikat

Indonesian fabric, made of cotton using the Ikat technique, a term derived from the Malay word mengikat, meaning “to tie, to knot.” Ikat is one of the world’s most complex dyeing methods, where the threads are dyed before weaving begins. To prevent the dye from penetrating certain sections, several threads are tied together with a water-resistant material, such as a plant fiber. After applying the dye, the knots are untied, revealing the pattern within the fibers. This process is repeated as many times as desired for each color. Finally, the threads are woven on a loom, typically a backstrap loom where the weavers use their own bodies to maintain tension. This technique is used to create patterns primarily on textiles (clothing, cushions, bedspreads, bed covers, rugs, tablecloths, napkins, etc.), but it can also be printed or applied to other surfaces such as wallpaper. It can be used on furniture or hung on walls.