What is Ikat fabric? Is it handloom or power loom?

Ikat is a dyeing and weaving technique where yarns are tie-dyed in specific patterns before weaving — so the pattern appears automatically as the fabric is woven. The word "ikat" comes from Indonesian "mengikat" (to tie/bind).

Major Ikat-producing regions in India:

• Pochampally Ikat (Telangana) — geometric double ikat, GI-tagged
• Sambalpuri Ikat (Odisha) — traditional motifs, GI-tagged
• Patan Patola (Gujarat) — extremely fine double ikat silk, very premium

Handloom vs Power loom Ikat: Authentic ikat is handwoven. The characteristic "blurry edge" of ikat patterns is the handloom signature — machine imitations have sharper, printed-looking edges. Most affordable ikat in wholesale markets is digital print imitation.

Wholesale: Handloom ikat sarees ₹800–₹5,000+. Digital print ikat-style sarees from Surat ₹200–₹600.