Add a dash of Sambalpuri Ikat weave to your traditional wardrobe with this ready-to-stitch dress material from iTokri! We specialize in handloom items from weavers in Western Odisha who create these exquisite dress materials and make sarees crafted using these techniques.
From modern block prints to intricate zari work, our selection of fabrics will spur your creativity and help you unleash it! Shop now!
Cotton
Cotton is a natural cellulosic fabric comprised of creamy-white fluffy staple fibers produced from the seeds of cotton plants, creating silky staples with protective shells to encase its seeds. Cotton is one of the most widely used natural fabrics today for clothing due to its soft hand, breathability, and ability to retain dye more readily than other fabrics. Cotton can also be tailored into various forms suitable for casual and formal wear alike and used to create multiple textile products.
Unstitched cotton Sambalpuri ikat suit sets from our selection are all handloom-woven by master artisans in western Odisha and feature one-of-a-kind designs woven into each fabric piece, creating garments with distinct patterns woven in. Not only are these garments comfortable to wear in hot Indian climates, but they are also durable enough to stand up over time!
With proper stitching, our sambalpuri dress materials for sale can become versatile outfits. Choose simple block prints for everyday wear, or go for elaborate zari work and luxurious motifs for special events. We carry both cotton and silk stitchable dress material for your convenience – choose what best matches your style!
Silk
Silk is a luxurious fabric renowned for high-end fashion and home decor, known for its natural sheen and soft texture that makes it suitable for both formal and casual wear. Breathable to keep wearers cool and comfortable. The absorbent yet hypoallergenic properties of this natural fiber make silk an excellent choice when choosing delicate fabrics such as lace and lingerie.
Silk’s history is one of intrigue and glamour. According to legend, an empress discovered it accidentally when she found a silkworm cocoon in her teacup; she became fascinated by its unique properties, including producing fine threads from cocoons; this discovery ultimately led to sericulture or silk farming as we know it today.
Today’s silk production methods vary significantly in their sustainability; some methods utilize recycled silk, while others use synthetic fibers. Furthermore, new silk products that incorporate plant-based materials could dramatically decrease the fashion industry’s carbon emissions.
As there are various silk alternatives, it is essential to evaluate their sustainability before choosing one. Some use excessive water resources and fossil fuels, as well as taking years or decades to biodegrade in landfills. If possible, select organic silk fabric grown and harvested using sustainable practices for optimal sustainability.
Silk is an eco-friendly choice for formal attire like tuxedos. Breathable and naturally cooling, silk can keep the wearer cool during hot weather events while protecting them from sun damage. However, to be sure the silk you purchase is certified organic, it is essential to read labels.
Cotton-tasar blend fabric and eri spun silk are other alternatives to silk that may be considered. Eri-turned silk has a coarser weave than different varieties and can be used in quilts, shawls, and other items that require coarse fabric. Though famous as an eco-friendly replacement to traditional cotton fabrics, its environmental impacts have yet to be adequately examined.
Ikat
Ikat, or resist dyeing and weaving, is a technique widely utilized by traditional cultures across the world. Ikat fabric can be identified by its characteristic zig-zag pattern created when threads are bound and then dyed with resist dye before being unwound for weaving. Since this time-consuming and labor-intensive process takes many steps before being developed for weaving, ikat cloth is usually reserved for special events or family heirlooms due to the time commitment required for production and dyeing processes; patterns produced vary depending on whether warp or weft are tied in single textile productions, as this influences its final appearance and pattern as well.
There are various regions in India renowned for their production of ikat. Perhaps the most famous among them is Patan in Gujarat, known for its intricate double ikat patola sarees with intricate double ikat patterns known as patolas. Other notable examples are Andhra Pradesh’s telia rumal handkerchiefs and Rajkot’s woven ikat production; Odisha and Telangana also produce their versions, albeit with less intricate designs.
Preparing Ikat for weaving can take days to complete. Yarns must first be wound onto a tying frame and separated into bundles before being tied around warp threads using a special knot that forms the Ikat design. These bundles may then either be tied using single string circles or multiple individual ones to create larger patterns; finally, these bundles are immersed into dye solutions for hours upon hours until drying before they’re retired onto their original spots on the frame and used to weave into one single cloth fabric.
Sambalpuri Ikat fabric is often dyed using natural vegetable dyes that are far more environmentally friendly than chemical-based dyes commonly found in other fabrics. Additionally, these natural dyes make the ikat hypoallergenic – a significant benefit for those suffering from allergies or skin sensitivities. While synthetic dyes might offer some potential solutions, nothing beats natural ones when it comes to providing environmental and health benefits.
Bomkai
Sambalpuri dress materials, created using traditional techniques by skilled weavers, offer more than fabric; they serve as canvasses to express your individuality through stitching your signature style. Choose from an extensive collection of designs perfect for daily wear as well as special events – from simple block prints to elaborate zari work; there’s something here for everyone. Additionally, different colors and textures make it simple to put together outfits perfect for every event!
Bomkai sarees are the signature style of sambalpuri sarees, made by weaving on a pit loom using various threads such as cotton, mulberry silk, and tussar silk threads with striking borders and pallus patterns that often use contrast colors for borders and pallus insertions. Their designs often reference nature or tribal art for inspiration – these intricately designed textiles often become brides’ favorites when worn with jeweled temple necklaces and dangling earrings for bridal occasions.
The Bhulia community created Bomkai sarees from Odisha and first produced in the Ganjam district before spreading throughout the state. These distinctive weaves used coarse cotton yarns initially, though now, more fine yarns are preferred due to thick borders with intricate zari designs that distinguish them from other sarees. They have even received Geographical Indication status to indicate they can only be produced within the Bomkai and Sonepur districts of Odisha.
Today, bomkai sarees have become increasingly fashionable among Bollywood celebrities and can often be found worn at weddings and other special events. Dancers also love them – often using them to create stunning costumes for performances. Bomkai sarees can be enhanced further when worn with an odhani (second saree in pastel hues), which highlights patterns. Or pair it with crop tops or pre-stitched dresses for a modern touch!
Bomkai saree makers face many difficulties despite their popularity. Lack of financial assistance from the government and other sources has been an enormous setback to this handloom industry, forcing artisans to develop their skills further and increase production to meet market demand; furthermore, they need access to cutting-edge technologies that could improve both productivity and quality.
