Patan Patola

Patola sarees of Patan in Gujarat are made with a unique weave, double ikat, combining the techniques of tying, dyeing and weaving. The Patola is considered the ‘ultimate manifestation of weaving perfection’ because even one thread out of sync can result in a deformed pattern. It requires mathematical precision, vivid imagination, patience and total focus.

An ancient art, patola sarees have been referred to in the Kalpsutra, a 2000-year-old Jain holy book, and have been depicted in the carvings in Ajanta caves. Protected by a GI tag from the year 2013, the complexity and time-intensiveness are what makes patan patola so valuable.The warp and the weft silk threads are tied separately. The threads have distinct knots of cotton thread, as per the design the weaver has composed. The knots help to keep that particular area unexposed while dying.

The Salvi community, who live mostly in Gujarat, weaves four unique designs. Double ikat sarees with intricate motifs of parrots, flowers, elephants, and dancing figures are frequently worn in Jain and Hindu cultures. sarees with geometric patterns and floral patterns are common in Muslim cultures and are typically worn for weddings and other special events. Brahmins from Maharashtra typically wear sarees with plain, dark-colored borders and bodies and a bird pattern known as Nari Kunj.

A unique feature of the Patola loom is that it is tilted to one side and requires two people to sit and work together on just one saree. It can take six months to a year or even more, depending on the length as well as the intricacy of the pattern to make one of these Patola sarees. Because of the unique technique, Patola sarees are reversible and look exactly the same on both sides. The name patola is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘pattakulla', and is the plural form of the word patolu.The Patan Patola is also known as " The cloth of kings' '.

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