Craft Talk - Grammar of Ikat by Translate

One of the popular style of weaving and much loved ones has been Ikat. Translate is proud to play a part in creating awareness and celebrating  India’s rich legacy of ikat, an age-old textile technique while empowering the regional Ikat artisans. 

Ikat is a specialised dyeing technique applied to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye, on either the warp or weft fibres prior to dyeing. It is distinctly labour intensive and known the world over for its precision and masterly craftsmanship. Ikat textiles are rich with interminable, inherent possibilities of tie-dyed patterned wraps and wefts that may be split and rearranged on the loom by hand. 

These painstakingly hand woven fabrics have a more dynamic surface qualities than those achieved in power loom weaving. They are distinctive in look, and valued over other resist techniques of ornamental textiles such as Shibori, Batik, Mud resist and Leheria.

Ikat have often been recognised as the symbols of status, wealth and prestige. Perhaps because of the time and high level of skill required to make ikat, some traditions believed the cloth to be imbued with magical characteristics. The word ikat has come from the Malay-Indonesian word Mengikat, which means to tie a bundle of yarns or threads. 

While the most complex double ikat exists only in Asia – Bali, Japan and India – the practice of ikat weaving is profuse among many cultures from across the globe. In India, it came to be developed as a prominent handloom textile art in three major regions – Andhra Pradesh/ Telangana, Gujarat, and Odisha.

Very likely it is one of the oldest forms of textile decoration.  Over the years, these three regions developed their own style of ikat weaving – each distinct in pattern and the way the yarn is dyed and used.

Translate, merely a fashion label veiling a minimal, versatile, and timeless range of products that you would love to live with, so full of stories you’ll cherish, so comfortable you’ll wear and care for years to come.  25 families of artisan's families working with them and are dedicated to setting up the path of revival and resurgence of the glorious IKAT textile. Classic styles and relaxed silhouettes are the hallmark of the summer collection. Ideal for the season, their collection is minimal, timeless and offers effortless ease for the woman who is on the go. ‘Ease’ is the key element of Translate. Most of the garments have pockets for them to put in their keys and mobiles.