Or just Patola, this is a hand woven silk textile particular to Patan, the capital of Gujarat, India. The distinctive, exquisite cloth is a double ikat weave–a most complex dyeing and weaving technique which has been passed down through the generations for thousands of years. Gujerat is known to be one of the earliest textile producers, and so by buying even a small piece, we also acquire a portion of local uninterrupted history. These weaves are instantly more recognisable than the name from the stunning garments we have seen on holiday and visual media; Indira Ghandi, for example, loved to wear Patola textiles.
