Patterns: Ikat

Somewhere between showing off wealth and showing off love for The Grateful Dead lies a fabric called Ikat. Perhaps that needs a little more explanation: Ikat is a type of fabric that utilizes specific methods of weaving (the word means "to tie" or "to bind" in Indonesian) and a dipping dying method similar to that of tie-dying. Because its creation was so time consuming, it was often a status symbol of wealth and power. Ikat burst back onto the uber-chic interiors scene several years ago, first from high-end ateliers like Madeline Weinrib and worldwide fabric collectors like John Robshaw, and later from big box stores like Target. After that, it quickly caught on in fashion, with designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Matthew Williamson embracing the print style and using it on bags, scarves, shoes and dresses.

During its time in the spotlight, a trend usually hits the tipping point somewhere between Matthew Williamson and Target, becomes passe, and goes dormant until someone decides to bring it back a decade or so later. However, this has not happened with ikat. Instead, designers have looked beyond the first navy blue and white iteration and explored the many different colors and patterns available in the ikat spectrum. Because ikat has such a long history and tradition in far-flung places from Bali from Bolivia and from Cambodia to Uzbekistan, there are plenty of color combinations, styles, patterns, scales and sizes for designers to choose from, ensuring that ikat is here to stay. Enough jibber-jabber, let me show you what I am talking about.