eferring to a type of weave resulting from an ancient resist-dyeing technique originating in Indonesia, ikat has its roots in the Malay-Indonesian term ‘to tie’ or ‘bundle’, denoting the process of binding yarns with a tight wrapping applied in the desired pattern prior to dyeing. These fabrics have long been considered precious because their creation is both time-consuming and skilled. Ikats – whose name has come to represent both the process and the finished product – have sprung up in several parts of the world over many centuries, including Peru, India, Egypt, Guatemala, Yemen, Japan and Uzbekistan. They are often characterised by an apparent blurriness, the result of the difficulty in perfectly aligning the dyed yarns during the weaving process. The use of fine materials minimises this outcome, but the unique look is often prized by designers and collectors. Today, there are still traditional handwoven ikats produced in Uzbekistan and Turkey, alongside
