Patola Saree
Patola silk sarees are one of the finest hand-woven silk sarees from Gujrat. These sarees are woven with diligence and inordinate lucidity. Before we dive into understanding it more, let’s understand what is patola. Patola is a double Ikat woven fabric and one of the finest and most expensive textiles.
It is traditionally made by the Hindu Salvi caste and brought into Southeast Asia by the Muslim Vohra community. These high-status patola sarees was either worn by Vohra families or wealthy Jain families and Hindus in various wedding and other ceremonies. This saree become a status symbol and is considered among the best pure silk wedding sarees.
The special feature of Patola Sarees
Patola is a special silk fabric made for sarees in Patan, Gujrat using double ikat fabric. These are very expensive sarees worn by royal and aristocratic families. These are popular among people who love sophisticated patola fabrics and can afford their high prices. This saree tradition is preserved by three families in Patan, Gujrat who are engaged in making these highly prized double Ikat sarees. Only sons in these families are taught this technique. It can take six months to a year to make this saree because every strand is dyed before weaving to make this special saree. It is also popular in Indonesia where few local people make this saree.
Ikat Saree
Ikat is a resisting technique in which yarn is dyed and tied before the fabric is dyed or woven. Ikat means ‘to bind’ in the Indonesian language. Since the pattern is created in the yarn itself, both sides of the saree are patterned. Odisha, Patan, and Sambalpur are some places where this saree is made. If you go back in history, you will find Ikat as indigenous textile art of India. An interesting fact is that Ikat is the word that comes from the Malay-Indonesian word Mengikat which means ‘to tie a bundle of yarn or thread’.
A special feature of Ikat Sarees
An apparent fuzziness pattern is characteristic of the Ikat saree. This blurriness is because the weaver has to align the dyed yarns so that the pattern shows perfectly in the finished fabric. This saree is extremely difficult to make and this blurriness can be reduced by using the finer yarns or the skill set of the artisan. Ikat saree with low blur is difficult to make and often is very expensive. However, the blurriness form of the saree is also highly appreciated by the collectors.
Ikat Vs Patola- Key differences
Ikat fabric is created by interweaving woven fabric and dyed warp with undyed weft. In double Ikat, both the warp and weft are made resistant and intertwined to make beautiful and complex patterns of Ikat sarees. The motifs and patterns are not visible as the fabric does not have any details. In the patola saree, the fabric motifs and patterns are visible and look brighter. The pattern created in double Ikat is visible on threads. The pattern in the Ikat saree takes less time to create because the details are only visible on one side. On the other hand, a patola saree takes more time due to several layers and the dyeing process. This makes double Ikat more expensive and fine prints are not as good as in patola. Double Ikat has more features than single Ikat.
Conclusion
Ikat is a remarkably popular fashion fabric in the market and there are huge demands for both single and double Ikat depending on various factors. Patola fabrics are more expensive as compared to Ikat. After knowing these differences between both sarees, you can make your choice and make your day special and memorable.
