A Look Into Ikat Fabric: Why Is It Growing In Popularity Among US Designers?
Ikat fabric originates from Indonesia. The term ‘ikat’ comes from the Indonesian word ‘mengikat’. It is a traditional dyeing technique that’s characterised by the design of distinctive patterns and slight blurriness around them. The blurriness is caused because the yarn that’s used to make the patterns is tied and dyed before weaving.
It creates a natural blur around the pattern that’s highly sophisticated and artisanal. Over the years, Ikat fabric has been popular across South East Asia in different countries; however, recently, US designers have started to take notice of this fabric. Why is Ikat fabric growing in popularity in the US? Let’s find out.
What’s Causing The Rise in Popularity of Ikat Fabric Among US Designers?
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Artisanal Value & Craftsmanship
In this very digital world where everything is precise and almost soulless, arts and culture are seeing a major revival in fashion. US designers are opting to showcase the Ikat fabric and dyeing technique because of its skilled making. The beautiful craftsmanship and cultural significance around it that various South Asian cultures have perfected are also reasons it is being highlighted. It is an attempt by modern designers to proudly display their heritage and culture and honour the skilled artisans who have
passed down this technique for generations.
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Versatile Global Appeal
The beauty of Ikat dyeing comes from how it changes across the different cultures that have adopted it. In India, the Ikat technique has been used with soft and earthy tones. In Uzbekistan, the technique has been adopted with bold geometric shapes. This type of versatility makes it easy for designers to incorporate the style into any type of garment or even household upholstery, bed linen, and pillowcases. The global appeal of this style comes from the fact that it is simple, and the style, though cultural, has a universal appeal.
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Sustainable and Cultural Preservation
Ikat fabric and dyeing are handmade. The entire process is labour-intensive and focuses on skills attained by artisans over years of training. In the world of fast fashion that focuses on mass production of low-effort and low customisation garments, the Ikat technique does the opposite. It qualifies as slow fashion since each garment is hand-designed, and it takes a significant time to complete. This slow-making process ensures the garments are unique, and they have a well-made build quality. These factors help the technique stand out and work in various fashion use cases.
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Incredible Vintage Styling
Vintage styles are always popular, but the 2020s seem to have an additional affinity for all things vintage. Whether it is the popularisation of vintage musical arrangements and styles in pop music or the use of vintage designs and fashion in popular wear, the US is bringing back the vintage and retro in every industry. The vintage styling of the Ikat technique also lends to its versatility, as vintage styling is very popular nowadays in everything from garments to home decor. This makes Ikat fabric ubiquitous across industries and very popular among designers.
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Design Versatility
The Ikat fabric and dyeing technique have unique stories embedded in each design and pattern, despite using simple shapes. The unique history behind the technique and how it has been used by different cultures makes it all the more important for US designers. Most modern designers are looking for ways to add meaning and significance to their designs. And what’s better than culture and handmade designs than to add meaning to their designs? This is also a major reason the Ikat fabric and technique are growing in popularity among US designers.
Conclusion
The Ikat fabric and dyeing technique is a testament to how simplicity and imperfection in perfection can yield results that survive the test of time. The popularity of this fabric and technique in the West allows the artisans to get their due credit and recognition. For more information about the Ikat fabric or garment manufacturing trends, check out CheerSagar.
CheerSagar is one of the top garment manufacturers and exporters in India, with detailed insights into global garment manufacturing trends. If you’re interested in acquiring high-quality Ikat fabric or starting a clothing line with this fabric style, CheerSagar can easily help you. Check out the website to learn more about the offered services.
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