"I was lucky enough to have worked and learned under master craftsmen, the best block printers and makers jaipur had to offer. now, the landscape has changed, the younger generations has a more commercial mindset and it has become difficult to produce fine and detailed blockprinted textiles..."
the art of block printing
for me block printed cloth is one of the most artistic and beautiful fabric in the world.
block printing is an ancient craft and one of the oldest, most labor intensive, complex and time-consuming manual processes of textile manufacturing. which explains its high manufacturing costs. it is not easily sustainable today, because it requires highly skilled and experienced professionals, master craftsmen who are dedicated and passionate about their work, not easy to find these days.
my fabrics are printed by hand in big, airy printing halls with hand carved wooden blocks. the seasoned teak blocks are dipped into a dye pool, stamped onto the fabric and repeated until that color is complete for the pattern.
depending on the complexity and color diversity of the design, each color requires its own block and systematic, precise layering on five-meter-long printing tables.
between each change of color, it is essential that the cloth dries fully in order to prevent the pattern from smudging. after the printing is complete the cloth is dipped into a solution bath to set the dye then hung to dry.
according to the product, pre-washed and conditioned runs of cotton cloth in different counts and thicknesses are carefully and accurately stretched to ensure exact alignment. when pigments start to accumulate in the carving of the blocks, they must be re-carved and renewed to maintain the crispness of the design.
"I strive to create a permanence that stands, something capable of rising to each occasion and enabling a transformation to further evolution on this journey that is life"