Handwoven fabrics from India's Translate put focus on the age-old art of Ikat

India's Translate focuses on reviving the age-old craft of handwoven Ikat for its apparel and home textile label.

"We aim to transform the trandition handcraft to comfortable, timeless clothing and lifestyle, "

says Translate.

It was exciting to find exhibiting at Pure London in February 2020, the Indian company Translate which showcased its array of Ikat craft techniques are transformed into contemporary fashion.

Co-founders, husband and wife Vickas and Vinita Passary explained that they want to create awareness for India's rich heritage in handcrafted textiles. "We celebrate the craft of Ikat by sustaining the exquisite beauty it inherits through our modern re-interpretation of heritage," she said.  "Our premise that 'hands are the value addition', the materials are passed through several hands to create works that are unique.
Translate was established along with textile artist Mr Chandrasekhar.
The company's aim is to give new lease of life to the Ikat craft techniques by empowering and providing consistent employment to the sixth generation artisanal communities.

Skilled artisans, weavers, designers and many more talented hands are involved in the design studio set up at Translate for creating a wide array of Ikat designs.

Ikat is one of the oldest known patterned textiles in the world, with a history that spans across multiple cultures and is known to have existed in India since the 6th Century.

Photos courtesy of TRANSLATE.

Ikat is a resist dyeing technique used to pattern textiles and the word ‘ikat’ comes from the Malay-Indonesian word for ‘tie’. Traditionally, Ikat were symbols of status, wealth, power and prestige because of the time and intricate skill involved in the weaving process.

With its continuous and sustained effort to work with the Ikat weavers, Translate is able to ensure the craft is kept alive and authentic.