The Ikkat Silk Sarees and Its Types

The quintessential Ikkat sarees sport the ‘Chowkhra design.’ For those who are alien to this term, it means a diamond within a square. It has diffused edges. You will get the Ikkat silk saress in silk or cotton or a blend of the two. This tie and dye design are famous. The Ikkat uses single-ikkat weave patterns. You can find some of the best art prints and patterns that include flowers, creepers, dancing girls, leaves, and mythological characters. Find these in combination with geometric diamonds, circles, and squares.

The Various Types of Ikkats:

You will be able to find a variety of Ikkats today. Find Ikkat not only in India, but other countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Japan as well. The weaving patterns set it out against other patterns. There are four different types of Ikkat doing the rounds today. They are:

Pochampally Ikkat–That utilizes the double-weave pattern, unlike the single-weave technique of normal Ikkat. Pochampally has found itself amongst the UNESCO list of world heritage sites today.

Patola Ikkat–Made in silk, this too sports the double Ikkat design. Weavers take up to a year to make these Ikkat silk sarees. You will find a host of geometric patterns, apart from motifs of elephants, dancing girls, and flowers. They are made in Patan, Gujarat.

Sambhalpuri Ikkat–From Orissa, this is another variation of the Ikkat weave. The ultimate feature that sets this apart from the rest is the ‘Bandhakala’ way of tie and dye. There are some popular variants like Barpali, Bapta, and Bomkai to name a few.

Ikkat saree with Kanchi Border- is also making news today, in the saree fashion circuit. You will look like a queen, as you sport this beautiful piece in silk, with a zari border. The borders and the pallu sport the Kanchipuram design.

Sport Them on Different Occasions:

You can sport them for various festivals and occasions today, along with silver and gold plated jewelry. Tie your hair in a bun, with white jasmine flowers, or choose to leave it open. It is completely up to you. So, make the most of it.