Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Pochampally Ikat Turns Carefully Dyed Threads Into Geometry
Pochampally Ikat is a kind of cloth made in Telangana.
Before the cloth is woven, craftspeople tie parts of the threads so dye cannot reach them.
They dye the threads and arrange them carefully on a loom.
When the threads are woven together, they form patterns such as diamonds, flowers, parrots and elephants.
The designs can look a little soft around the edges, which is a normal feature of Ikat.
Pochampally weavers began making saris in the 1960s.
Their work can be made with cotton or silk.
The tradition has a special geographical registration that links it to its place and community.
Pochampally Ikat is a Telangana handloom tradition known for cotton and silk textiles and bold geometric designs.
Its patterns are made by tying and dyeing selected yarn sections before weaving, sometimes through repeated dyeing.
Pochampally weavers began producing saris in the 1960s, first in cotton and later in silk.
Genuine Pochampally Ikat is reversible and has characteristic soft or slightly blurred motif outlines.
The textile received Geographical Indication registration in 2004, and its registration is valid until December 2033.
- Who
- Pochampally weavers and other workers involved in preparing, dyeing, designing and weaving the textiles.
- What
- A handloom tradition that creates patterns by resist-dyeing yarn before weaving.
- When
- The article says Pochampally saris began to be made in the 1960s; the textile received GI registration in 2004.
- Where
- Pochampally, Telangana, about 50 kilometres from Hyderabad.
- Why
- The process encodes designs into the yarn before weaving, producing the tradition’s distinctive geometric patterns.
- Location
- Pochampally, Telangana, about 50 kilometres from Hyderabad
- Materials
- Cotton and silk
- Technique
- Selected yarn sections are tied and dyed before weaving
- Sari production
- Pochampally weavers began making saris in the 1960s
- GI registration
- Registered in 2004; valid until December 2033
- Telangana handloom workers
- 47,852 in the Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019–20)
- India handloom workers
- 35.22 lakh in the Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019–20)