Ikat Fabric
Tenun Ikat or Ikat weaving is a traditional Indonesia woven fabric. Ikat itself is an Indonesian word means thread or knot. Most of the regions in Indonesia have their own version of Tenun Ikat. Some of the regions that produce the most popular and beautiful Tenun Ikat designs are: Bali, Flores, Jepara, Lombok, Sintang, Sumba, Sumbawa, Timor, and Toraja. The process of making Tenun Ikat could be decribed in 4 steps:
- Dyeing the threads and arranging the threads neatly into the width of the desired fabric.
- Hooking the neatly arranged threads on the Plangkan and then binding the threads using rope.
- Making the ikat pattern by alternating the threads and colors.
- Unhooking the threads and bindings.
Batik Nudo’s Tenun Ikat material is made from a high quality Rayon Cotton which posess the following properties: lightweight, soft, cool, and a slightly lustrous visual. The process of making our Tenun Ikat takes a lot of time because the process is done using traditional methods without any aid of modern machine. Our Tenun ikat fabric is great to be made into clothes and well-matched for any occasion, such as Ikat dress or shirt.
- When you first buy the Tenun Ikat fabric, do not forget to soak it in the water for a few hours. Traditional Tenun Ikat has not been pre-shrink beforehand, so the fabric will surely shrink a bit when you soak it in the water for the first time.
- Same as batik, do not use powder detergent (washing powder) to wash your Tenun Ikat. It’s recommended using special soap made of Lerak, but if you cannot find it in the market, you can try to find cleaner or soap with other natural ingredients. A small amount of body soap can also be used as subtitute.
- Do not wash Tenun Ikat using washing machine. Hand wash only.
- Do not dry Tenun Ikat under direct sunlight since it may damage the color. Always dry your batik in the shade.
- Store your Tenun Ikat clothings inside a plastic cover to prevent moths or other insects from damaging it. Do not out camphor inside the place where you store your batik tulis to avoid damaging the color.
- Iron using low heat