gohil patola art Arya Nagar, Rajkot, Gujarat

This is a resist-dye process where bound patterns (like in tie & dye) are applied to the ‘warp’( vertical string) (tano)threads in keeping with the exact design that is desired later upon weaving these threads with extreme precision. More the number of bindings and colures , more intricate(difficult) & elaborate(very concentrated) the design. The weft (horizontal string) (vano) thread is of a plain colour without any bindings. Sambalpuri , Pochampalli , Rajkoti Patola are fine Indian examples of single Ikat work.

Material : pure silk

Both warp(tano) & weft(vano) is dyed before the weaving begins. This requires expertise and pin-point accuracy as displacement of even one thread may result in a deformed pattern on the cloth. They are so unique that they are the geographical indication tags for Gujarat as Rajkot Patolas and Andhra Pradesh as Bhoodan Pochampally. Handcrafted Patola (also called Patolu) from rajkot is a double Ikat fabric manufactured only for direct clint.