Ikat-inspired Karin Towel Collection
What is Ikat?
Ikat is an Indonesian word that references the tying, or binding, of the yarn, which is then resist-dyed prior to being woven. But ikat traditions exist elsewhere, too—in places like India, Japan, Cambodia, Iran, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Whether these traditions developed independently or via very old trade routes is still up for debate. Nevertheless, techniques and aesthetic preferences have certainly crossed far flung boundaries and made for a flourishing, multifaceted tradition that continues today.
In ikat, the resist is formed by binding individual yarns or bundles of yarns with a tight wrapping applied in the desired pattern. The yarns are then dyed. The bindings may then be altered to create a new pattern and the yarns dyed again with another colour. This process may be repeated multiple times to produce elaborate, multicolored patterns. When the dyeing is finished all the bindings are removed and the yarns are woven into cloth. In other resist-dyeing techniques such as tie-dye and batik the resist is applied to the woven cloth, whereas in ikat the resist is applied to the yarns before they are woven into cloth. Because the surface design is created in the yarns rather than on the finished cloth, in ikat both fabric faces are patterned. Ikat can be classified into three general types: warp ikat and weft ikat, in which the warp and weft yarns are dyed, respectively; and double ikat, where both the warp and weft yarns are dyed.
Product as Protagonist
A characteristic of ikat textiles is an apparent “blurriness” to the design. The blurriness is a result of the extreme difficulty the weaver has lining up the dyed yarns so that the pattern comes out perfectly in the finished cloth. The blurriness can be reduced by using finer yarns or by the skill of the craftsperson. Ikat with little blurriness, multiple colours and complicated patterns are more difficult to create and therefore often more expensive. However, the blurriness that is so characteristic of ikat is often prized by textile collectors.
Inspired by traditional Ikat weaving techniques, Karin is ultra-sophisticated set of towels— AND is fully reversible. The artisanal pattern is comprised of two tones in a low-key landscape of walnut and ecru. The generous double yarn is gratifyingly durable and maximizes comfort. This set absorbs and dries with ease thanks to the sumptuous surface area that forms an exceptionally even pile.
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Like many Autumn Sonata prints, Karin is not merely derived from a single point of inspiration, but is instead an amalgamation of origin stories, where ancient tradition and modern craft meet. We invite you to see for yourself!
Karin Collection
All Autumn Sonata at Boketto