A single saree. 72 hours of work.

Before the first thread is placed on the loom, an Ikat weaver has already calculated the entire pattern in their mind.

The resist-dyeing process — where threads are tied and dyed in precise sequences before weaving begins — requires no computer, no blueprint, and no margin for error. The pattern lives in the weaver's memory, passed down through years of apprenticeship.

Techniques practised by our weavers

  • Sambalpuri Ikat

    One of India's most complex weaving traditions, Sambalpuri Ikat involves resist-dyeing the warp and weft threads before they are placed on the loom.

    The dyer calculates where each thread will land in the final pattern and ties resist knots at precise intervals. After dyeing and drying, threads are stretched onto the loom — and the pattern emerges only as the weaving progresses.

    GI Tag: Yes — can only be authentically produced in Sambalpur and surrounding districts of Odisha.

  • Pasapalli

    Named after the chessboard (Pasa = dice game in Odia), the Pasapalli pattern uses a two-shuttle technique to create its characteristic check pattern in two contrasting colours.

    It is one of the most recognisable motifs in Odisha hand weaving — traditionally worn during festivals and ceremonies.

    GI Tag: Yes — protected under Sambalpurisaree GI.

  • Bandha

    Bandha is the Odia term for the tie-and-dye resist technique that forms the basis of all Ikat weaving in Odisha.

    A master Bandha artisan can tie thousands of resist knots in a single day — each placed with millimetre precision to ensure the pattern aligns when the threads meet on the loom.

The pit loom

Every piece on loomed.in is woven on a traditional pit loom — a hand-operated loom where the weaver sits with their legs in a pit below the frame, using foot pedals to control the warp threads.

No electricity. No automation. Every throw of the shuttle, every beat of the reed, is done by hand.

A six-yard saree on a pit loom takes between 3 and 7 days. A complex double-ikat piece can take a month.

The GI Tag — what it means and why it matters

Sambalpuri sarees and several other Odisha handwoven textiles carry a Geographical Indication (GI) tag — a legal certification that a product originates from a specific region and possesses qualities attributable to that origin.

This means a saree labelled Sambalpuri can only be authentically produced by weavers in the Sambalpur region of Odisha, using traditional techniques.

Every piece on loomed.in comes from GI-eligible regions and verified weaving households.

See the craft for yourself.

Browse pieces made using these techniques — each listing tells you exactly which technique was used and how long it took.

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