Ikkat (also spelled Ikat) is a dyeing technique used to create patterns on fabric by resist dyeing the yarns before they are woven. This age-old craft is practiced in different parts of India, with each region offering its own style and variation — such as Pochampally Ikkat (Telangana), Patola (Gujarat), and Sambalpuri Ikkat (Odisha).
What makes Ikkat unique is the precision with which the yarns are dyed to match a pre-conceived design — so that when the yarns are woven together, a beautiful pattern emerges as if by magic.