Ikat Weaving in India: A Case Study of Three Indigenous Traditions

This chapter describes the Indigenous technology of Ikat weaving and dyeing in India in three regions, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa. Ikat weaving and dyeing is an Indigenous technology passed down for centuries through communities and families. The chapter draws on primary and secondary sources to explore how the design and procedures of ikat weaving are intertwined with community living, identity, and livelihood. The impact of overseas trade and market influences on this Indigenous weaving style has transformed history and continues to transform the globalized world of fashion and design. The Indian case study shows that the inclusion of such Indigenous technology in culturally relevant pedagogy has relevance for contemporary design and technology education, especially in higher education. Institutional support and regulatory processes help situate Indigenous technology locally in India by protecting the intellectual property of such technologies. Ikat regional communities also offer evidence of how Indigenous knowledge traditions contribute to our understanding of sustainability in technology education.