Hand Block Printing
Our block prints are made by 7th generation master printers in the village of Bagru, India, where hand block printing has been practiced for 300 years. Each part of the process takes place in this community: block carving, dyeing, printing, washing, and ironing using heritage methods.Â
Blocks are carved by hand onto teak wood, which are then used to “stamp” fabric laid out on long tables with the design. Sun and dry heat are crucial, as are minerals used in the water to wash the fabric, to get the color and print to appear as expected. Drips and edges of the block are sometimes obvious in the fabric (and occasionally evidence of a cow or dog running over the fabric in a field!), which are normal and add to their story.
There are several printing methods used by the master printers including dabu (mud printing), resist (blind printing onto dyed fabrics to remove dye for the print), and screen (using large screens for intricate designs). Natural elements are used throughout the process, including madder, mustard, iron, and more.
Nature and history play major roles in all methods, adding to the unique beauty of the process and end result.