SATURDAY 31 |The ancient Khmer art of ikat, which translates as ‘to tie’ or ‘bind’ and is synonymous with Takeo province, is perhaps one of the most painstaking ways of declaring a fabric fetish. It’s believed to be one of the world’s oldest methods of textile decoration, and villagers begin by resist-dyeing the threads before weaving the fabric by hand on narrowv looms. Tiny bits of plastic are tied around each thread; they’re then dropped into pots of lively coloured dye. The end results are vast, elaborately patterned cottons and silks, on which village life and local beliefs are depicted in glorious technicolour. Patterns are traditionally passed verbally from generation to generation, but local design house Push Pull Cambodia is fusing ikat’s ‘historic handmade techniques with modern design aesthetics’. Designer Hor Sokbol’s debut 2012 spring collection, Nautical by Nature, will be the highlight of this month’s Fashion Connections night.
WHO: Push Pull Cambodia
WHAT: Fashion Connections
WHERE: Queen Boutique Hotel, #49a Street 214
WHEN: 6pm March 29
WHY: 11th century fabric meets 21st century couture