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Shibori- Unravelling the knots!

Shibori - Unravelling the knots!

Shibori is an ancient hand-made, resist dyeing craft that uses the precise technique of binding, compressing, clamping, pleating, twisting, stitching or folding fabric by using threads to form desired contrasting patterns. The threads resist the dye from penetrating the fabric. 

Each way of tying the fabric results in very distinctive and diverse patterns. The method selected depends on the desired effect to be achieved and the inherent qualities of the fabric. At times combination of methods is used to get exclusive & elaborate designs.  Shibori is a time-consuming and labor-intensive textile craft. 

The origin of Shibori can be traced back to 8th century Japan. The Japanese Traders brought the craft to India in the 17th Century. Eagerly embraced, the craft found its unique expression here.  Shibori has been widely admired in India ever since.  It is used to create exclusive, exquisite fabrics for Indian Dresses, Kurtis and Ethnic Wear amongst other things. 

Varieties of Shibori:- 

Arashi: The fabric is pleated or gathered into a desired shape, then wrapped around a pole or rod before dyeing to create Stripes

Itajime: (Clamps Dye): The fabric is pleated, folded, clamped and dyed with wooden blocks to create large geometric patterns

Kanoko : The random sections of the fabric are bound to create a pattern of circles

Nui or Needle Shibori: The Fabric is resisted with a simple running thread which is pulled, to gather the fabric. The thread is then tied tightly before dyeing to create delicate, simple, abstract or geometric designs.

Some other popular varieties are Miura (Loop Binding), Kumo (Spider Web), Mokume (Wood Grain), Maki-age (Criss-cross binding) and Maki Nui (Chevron) Shibori. Bandani and Leheriya are the most admired comparable Crafts of Indian origin and have a rich cultural heritage. 

The distinctiveness of Shibori is its soft, blurry edges around the pattern. Because, it is handmade, an element of the surprise is always there.  An authentic Shibori pattern diverges in design and depth of color. The same dye and the same technique never yield the same result twice. No two pieces are ever identical.  

From dark, saturated tones and washed-out Indigo, to purple roots of plum plants to produce various shades of purple and red to trendy pastel shades, the tonal multiplicity of Shibori is as broad as the range of techniques to create it and the resultant patterns.  

How to identify Hand Made Shibori?

Original Shibori can be distinguished from machine-printed Shibori by looking at the texture, pattern, and quality of the fabric. Handcrafted Shibori fabrics have a unique texture, with a few irregularities and variations in the pattern. The color of the fabric is also more vibrant and in-consistent compared to machine-printed versions. Additionally, handmade Shibori fabrics tend to have a higher quality and are more durable and are more expensive than printed imitation. 

Difference between Shibori and Tie-dye:-

The key difference between Shibori and tie dye is that it requires the use of thread to create the patterns as opposed to just literally tying the cloth.  Shibori designs are more delicate and refined while tie-dye often creates bolder and more abstract patterns. 

At Vassundhara, we work with Shibori artisans at Bhuj and Rajasthan, who have been living and breathing the craft for generations.  To check our Carefully Curated Collection of various types of hand made, authentic Shibori Suit Fabric with Dupattas and Indian Dress Material, please visit

 https://www.vassundhara.com/categories/shibori



Our products are crafted largely on Fabrics like Chanderi, Cotton and Modal Silk! 

By Puja Malik