how beautiful is ikat? i'm craving it all over the house -- from my clothes to throw pillows to decorative art.
1. ikat in the act dress / modcloth; 2. sequin ikat medium enamel bangle / nordstrom; 3. ikat-print ballerina flat / toms; 4. indigo ikat iii / ethan allen; 5. ikat pillow cover / couple home; 6. vera wang ikat 4-piece place setting / wedgwood
i was curious about this style showing up everywhere lately, so i did some research and learned that ikat is a precision dying technique that dates back to several pre-columbian central and south american cultures, and also has strong traditions in the middle east and southeast asia. when creating an ikat pattern (pronounced eeh-KAHT thanks apartment therapy!) the threads are dyed before the weaving process begins, giving us these great patterns. (head to apartment therapy's february blog post for more information on how ikat patterns are created.) it's a neat feeling to know that something we still enjoy has been around for centuries. hopefully these traditional techniques (and modern interpretations) will stick around!
kristie and i are off to the cape for a long weekend tomorrow (+ to celebrate my 25th birthday...keep your fingers crossed we see some action on our whale watch!). photos definitely to follow.
