Traditions Weaving Weft Ikat in Laos

摘要

Southeast Asia is well known for its ikat fabrics, ranging from warp and weft to double and compound ikat. Influences from India, Indonesia, China, and Japan are prevalent in this textile-rich region. While visiting the Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre in Luang Prabang, Laos, I learned the basics of weft ikat, a form of weft-resist patterning that can be used to create simple to complex designs. It's a technique practiced by many different Lao ethnic groups throughout the various provinces.