The Tie and Dye (IKAT)

The tie and dye, in real term ‘IKAT’ is derived form Mangikat, a Malayalam word, means to bind, tie and wind around. The IKAT is a tie-dye process on either the warp or weft or both in warp and weft according to the designs. At the primitive age the design under tie and dye was a creative motive on the mind of the weaver basing on the natural scenario mainly the scenery, animal motifs, flowers and plants. The design is impregnated over the yarn under tie and dye process being translated in to a graph from a rough sketch paper diagram. It some times happened directly on the yarn by the weavers from their mindset but depends upon the skill of the weavers. For its intricate art of long traditional design of excellence and craftsmanship of the weaver’s community on tie and dye fabrics, most popularly known as Bandha fabrics have a wide name and fame within the country and abroad. The tie and dye technique is mostly used in weaving Sarees, dress materials, lungi, bed cover etc.