Patola Weaving in Gujrat, India

Gujarat, in northern India is home of one of the most famous ikat traditions called the Patan Patola.

The Patola sarees are highly prized as festival cloth in Gujrat. These silk fabrics are double ikat, traditionally done with vegetable dyes, but now using chemical dyes. Patola saree represent the traditional wedding saree in Gujrat and are carefully preserved as family heirloom and are often presented as bridal gift.

The weaving of patola fabrics is extremely complicated and time consuming. The complexity of having both the warp and weft resist dyed makes the actual weaving much more demanding of precision. The long production process testifies to skilled craftsmanship and centuries of specialization. Weaving production of Patola in India is mostly carried out as a family business and tradition. The Looms used are single harness with no rigid framework.

In Patan, Gujrat (nearly 4 hrs drive from Ahmedabad) I visited the Salvi family's workshop where double patola is woven in a traditional way and ...These saris are prized pieces , but have been so throughout history.

• Wedding Scene
• Workshop of Salvi Brothers, Patan, Gujrat (Photographed in December of 1998)