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| Oscar de la Renta Trench Coat, 2005 |
"They are so unbelievably rich in color," he said. "Ikat is a very traditional fabric that works well for all seasons".
Collaborating with Rasuljon Mirzaakhmedov, master craftsman from Margilan, in the Ferghana Valley, his collection includes adras (cotton and silk ikat), baghmal (silk velvet ikat) and atlas ikat (satin ikat) in bright, graphic patterns. Mr. Mirzaakhmedov's family is at the vanguard in a revival of velvet ikat weaving in which white silk threads are dyed and placed on a narrow loom, a technique that is highly complicated and practiced by very few. The process requires a month to produce just a few metres of fabric.
Ikat refers to both the type of fabric and the resist-dye technique used to create the cloth. To make ikat, parts of the warp (the yarns which run vertically) or the weft (horizontal) yarns are bound and placed in a series of dye baths. The parts of the yarns that are tied and protected resist the dye, allowing makers to produce multi-colored textiles through exposing the yarn to multiple dye baths. Unlike carpets or tapestries, the design of an ikat is articulated on the yarns before weaving begins.
Many other designers have jumped on the ikat train, including Dries Van Noten and Gucci.
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| Adorable ikat ballet flat from Oscar de la Renta, 2010 |
Excursions from Tashkent to the silk centres of the Ferghana Valley can be arranged pre- or post-tour. View the range of Ferghana Valley tours.
In the clip below [1.22 mins} you can view some of Oscar de la Renta's gorgeous ikat pieces.
Related posts: Feruza's Ikat Store, Bukhara
Uzbek Ikat as Interior Design Element
Ferghana Valley Silk Ikats: Tying the Clouds
Uzbek ikat robes feature in Russian textiles book
Ikat Porcelain Tableware
Valentino Haute Couture Meets Suzani
Basso & Brooke Meet Ikat on the New Silk Road Project
