ikat

Ikat is a textile art, primarily from Indonesia, where the yarns are tie-dyed before weaving. This intricate process involves tightly tying sections of thread at calculated points before dyeing them. The tied areas resist the dye, and when the thread is woven, the predyeing creates the design.12

While often associated with Indonesia, ikat techniques are also found in Cambodia and among the Dayak people. The designs in ikat tend to be rectilinear, but skilled artisans can create beautiful compositions featuring birds, animals, and houses. This method is distinct from batik, another Indonesian textile art where patterns are created by applying wax to resist dye.23