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JOURNEY OF IKAT SAREE FROM THE LAND OF ODISHA, INDIA
The origin of the word Ikat traces back to the Malay-Indonesian word “mengikat”, which means “to tie”. It has its prominence marked across India, Indonesia and Japan. Traditional connotations of Ikat have been found in countries across Latin America and parts of Europe as well. The evolution of this fascinating textile also involves the impact of Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese colonialism on Southeast Asia, since the 16th century. Frescoes discovered in Maharashtra carry the hint that it was already been a part of India since the 7th century CE. With time, the artisans developed the craft of dyeing and weaving which soon embraced contemporary ethos.
Despite its origin is associated with Indonesia, the exact birthplace of this unique technique is yet to be discovered by historians. It may have had its own evolution over time in various locations of Central and Southeast Asia. Various techniques applied across countries indicate that it may have been a result of the migration of Indonesian tribesmen into the heartland of Australia. The famous Silk Road in India is said to have Ikat as a means of currency ever since its development in India.
