This exhibition features a selection of the Central Asian ikats given to The Textile Museum by collector Murad Megalli, on view for the first time ever.
Nineteenth-century Central Asian ikats are distinguished by bold, original designs using vibrant colors and are prized for their great beauty. These textiles derive their name from the technique used to create them, wherein bundled warps — and sometimes also the wefts — are bound and dyed several times before weaving, resulting in eye-catching designs in dazzling colors. Today the influence of ikat designs can be seen in contemporary fashion and home décor.

Washington, Textile Museum
October 16, 2010 through March 13, 2011