Patan Paa Ikat - Introduction

National Award Winner

Heritage Award Winner

Unesco Excellence Award Winner

The Patola, a hand made Silken Textile manufactured at Patan, in north Gujart, is an Art historically atleast several centuries old (As per legends from 4th A. D.)

It is recorded in the religious books like Ramayan & Narsinha Puran that Patola were used in great ceremony and in the marriage as a holy charm dressing.

Eg.	(1)	In the period of Ram-Rajya, king Janak had presented Patola to Sitaji (Wife of God Ram).

	(2)	Also in the period of great Lord Krishan, Narsinha Mehta (great devotee of Lord Krishan) had presented Patola to Kunvarbai.

It is believed that this tradition art received great patronge during the Chalukya period of King Kumarpul reign as before 800(approx.) years.

During the period of king Kumarpal, the queen used to wear a new Patola (Sari) every day. This is also recorded in the autobiography of Kumarpal.

In an ancient age dyes for colouring were being prepared by artisans themselves from the indigenous vegetables materials such as Haldi, Indigo, Lac and same way to day also promoganate skin, Iron Rust.

Almost all the instruments of Patola loom are being made from bamboo and few from wood and also carpentry of these instruments are done by artisan himself.

The Patolas are produced from thousand of years by the same process as it was before till to day. No technician is in position to make a single percent modification in the technique and the process of preparing of Patola, as it is a special technique.


	Day by day this art become dead and nowadays it is in the dead position. Since 1920 only four families are connected in traditional art. At present SALVI KANUBHAI MAFATLAL PATOLAWALA family has remained to keep this Art alive.

	The art of Patola weaving is an ancient one. According to some historians, the art of Patola weaving was known also in the 7th Century in 'Ajanta" caves (near Mumbai, India) which resembles the tie-dyes technique of patola.

	The Peculiar way of preparing the warp and weft used in Patolas, gives it as appearance as it was double cloth, in machine made double cloth if we examine a figure at a particular place we would find both side to be equal in colour. The same would be in the case of Patola Cloth. Howerver it is not a double cloth. Patola cloth is a single cloth with the same colours in particular design on the both the sides. Flowers, animal patterns are created in weaving Patola and if any particular animal of flower be examined from both sides, there will be the same color on each side. This is not done by printing but by ties, dyes and weaving called tie and dyes process. As said before it is the peculiar way of preparing the warp and weft that gives this effect. Warp and weft are tied into knots according to the design to be woven and then dyed in to different colours. While weaving, weaver has to be very careful to unite a particular colour in weft with that in warp otherwise design would not be clear. The striking peculiarity of Patola is the that it has exactly identical designs and colours & are permanent. There is a proverb in Gujarati "PADI PATOLE BHAT PHATE PAN PHITE NAHI "(Designs on Patola will never perish though it may be worn out).

	This harmounous effect of various colours and various animals and floral design woven in it to give the Patola a pleasing appearance.

	Patola fabric represent aspects of our (INDIA) heritage in the rich traditional art and crafts. The fabrics are woven on the hand made looms and ancient art of Patola in characterised by such exquisite weaving that the design produced present a smooth finish on both the sides of the fabrics. Patola designs comprise traditional motifs such as peacock, elephants, doll and flowers etc..