SUSTAINABLE IKAT REVIVAL THROUGH NATURAL DYES AND SCREEN-PRINTED SMART FEATURES

Abstract

The traditional art of Ikat weaving is currently facing an existential crisis driven by the labor-intensive nature of resist dyeing, the prevalence of synthetic chemical pollutants, and the market pressure from mass-produced counterfeits. To revive this heritage craft within a sustainable and economically viable framework, this paper proposes a novel methodological convergence of eco-friendly natural dyeing and advanced screen-printing technologies. We integrate the use of natural sensitizers extracted from mangosteen peel and grass jelly leaves with high-tech screen-printed functional elements, including graphene-based RFID transponders and optically transparent conductive layers. This hybrid approach not only reduces the ecological footprint through the elimination of toxic synthetic mordants but also embeds digital intelligence into the fabric, enabling provenance tracking and authentication. By leveraging recent advancements in screen-printed electronics and natural material chemistry, we present a roadmap for a "Smart Ikat" textile that preserves cultural aesthetics while adopting modern functional capabilities suitable for the Internet of Things (IoT) era.