Global Ikat: Roots and Routes of a Textile Technique, Rosemary Crill

Intricately dyed threads, blurred patterns, and centuries-old skill—ikat is one of the world’s most captivating textile techniques, crossing borders and shaping identities wherever it travels. This beautifully illustrated volume follows ikat’s winding paths from its ancient roots in Central and Southeast Asia to its reinventions across India, Africa, and Latin America, tracing how a single method has flourished through migration, trade, and cultural exchange.

Combining scholarly essays with striking images of cloth, makers, and communities, the book reveals regional variations and symbolic meanings woven into each piece. Both a global survey and a tribute to local mastery, it celebrates ikat as a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the timeless dialogue between tradition and innovation.

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About the Author
Rosemary Crill is a textile historian and curator renowned for her expertise in Indian fabrics and decorative arts. Former Senior Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, she has authored influential studies on chintz, embroidery, and South Asian textile traditions. Her work combines deep material knowledge with cultural context, illuminating the stories woven into cloth and the global journeys of Indian textiles.

Publication date: 2023
Publisher: Hali Publications
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781898113904

Dimensions: 24.5 x 2.54 x 30 cm