This fabric is a printed version of an early 20th century Uzbek ikat preserved in the Le Manach archives. Ikat is one of the oldest methods of resist-dyeing. The term ikat comes from the Malay-Indonesian verb "mengikat" which means to tie. The yarn is tied and immersed in a dye bath. The areas that have been tied are protected from the dye and, when woven, create variations in tone and blurred effects. Used as curtains or for making dresses, ikats come in a wide variety of linear designs and combinations of primary and secondary colours.