Sambalpuri|Ikat

• Single Ikat fabrics are created by interweaving tied and dyed warp with plain weft or resisted weft yarns is inserted in plain weft.
• Double ikat involves the process of resisting on both warp and weft and then interlacing them to form intricate yet well composed patterns.

• In warp ikat the dyeing of the threads would be of the warp (lengthwise lay of threads) across which the plain weft (feed of thread woven breadth wise across the warp) is led through. In warp ikat the patterns are evident on the warp lay even before the weft is introduced.
• In weft ikat it would be vice versa.
• In double ikat both the warp threads and the weft threads would be dyed separately and then woven together.

Cotton has the best absorption capacity among fabrics and is a ‘breathing’ fabric which allows free air movement. This allows the body to cool and keeps it comfortable in hot and sultry weather conditions.

Mercerization is a treatment for cellulosic materials like cotton fabric and thread that gives the fabric or yarns a lustrous appearance, strengthens them and yet maintains the above mentioned qualities of pure cotton. Cotton and mercerized cotton are used in making Sambalpuri cotton sarees.

• The exclusive Bomkai Saris employ the ikat style of tie-dye, where the threads are dyed with contrasting colours before they are woven with a special ‘extra weft’ technique.
• This traditional art uses vegetable dyes to a large extent, with a leaning toward artificial colours in present day creations. Black, yellow, orange, maroon, are the preferred hues.
• Bright coloured panels with extra motifs on a highly contrasting background make this tribal art fabric uniquely stand out.
• Motif patterns commonly adorning the fabric are bitter gourd, the atasi flower, the kanti-phul or small flower, peacocks and birds, Konark temple, conches. The initial or large motif known as Butta, such as a bird sitting on a tree, is woven on the body. This accentuates the fabric look. The smaller motifs decorate the borders and pallu, and have pomegranate seeds, Saara seeds and temple spires as popular subjects.
• A special method of cutting warp ends of a colour and re-tying them to different coloured warp ends, known as ‘muha-johra’ is used to create a dense layer of colours at the end piece (pallu) of the Saree.

• First the yarn is tied in bundles. Yarn could be silk, cotton, jute or any other fibre chosen as base material.
• The resist bindings in the form of wax or any other dye resistant material, is then applied over the yarn.
• The dye is applied carefully and systematically and according to the desired shade.
• The procedure of application of resist bindings afresh for different colours is repeated till the dyeing process of all colours used is complete.
• Washed and dried in shade, the coloured threads are laid out on the loom and the weft on small spindles is used to interweave across the warp threads to create the fabric.
• Important is the pattern that has to surface accurately on the warp for which the alignment of the warp threads is a pre-requisite. If the alignment is precise, the resulting motif comes out as a fine print rather than as a weave.
• Here the skill of the weaver comes into play. The warp threads are manually raised selectively to allow the weft thread to pass through and how keenly this follows the intended design determines the fineness of the resulting pattern on the fabric.
• Patterns could be formed vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
• Choosing the ikat style of weaving is based on whether you want:
• Precision of patterns – warp ikat style
• Getting the overall picture right – weft ikat style
• Accuracy – double ikat style.

Ikat printed sarees use the popular designs of ikat weaves and bring them out as block prints. ikkat printed sarees have repeated geometrical patterns of diamonds (rattan chowk), circles, squares, lines etc.

The artistic excellence of ikat prints can be gauged from its traditional motifs of flowers, dancing girl, creepers, leafs, parrot, animals, birds, mythological characters and geometrical patterns.

• Sambalpuri handloom cotton and silk sarees, known for their vibrant colors, ikkat weaving, temple style borders, patola weaving are a popular draw, the Rudraksha or bead formation design being a popular favourite.
• Then you have Sambalpuri cotton sarees with simple motifs, floral designs or a mix of the two - ikat on the motifs, borders and naturally the pallu being totally designer ikat. The colors a mix of the dark and bright, the Sambalpuri cottons are a treat to see.
• Trendy, eye-catching sarees in a variety of innovative designs and patterns and in a wide range of scintillating colours and shades, are also part of the collection.
• You get to see the shiny looking and lustrous Sambalpuri handloom charkha silks that are from a special process of spinning the silk yarn and weaving. The colors are simply eye-catching for their bright look and regal feel. Plenty of the temple borders and ikat patterns that are typical of the Sambalpuris.
• You also get mercerized cotton tie & dye patola weaving sarees.

• Buying Sambalpuri cotton, silk sarees through wholesale online shopping provides for attractive discounts.
• The variety of Sambalpuri in cotton and silk sarees seen can be ordered online from the website to most parts of the world, with shipping across India free of cost and only essential charges for destinations overseas.
• Buying Sambalpuri silk, pattu silk, and cotton sarees online, is an unforgettable shopping experience with extremely attractive prices waiting for you at every turn.
• Not to forget sales at every Indian festival where Sambalpuri sarees figure prominently