Blog
BLOCKPRINT: an ancient & historic art of handmade wooden ink prints
BlockPrint is one of the most historic & ancient artwork practiced by our Artisans from many years, which is being done using hands & making beautiful handcrafted fabric designs.This is an ancient artwork that has been used in India, China & many more countries for many centuries & even now it is trending in fashion & is also a symbol of elegance, comfort & culture.
1-Why choose handmade wooden ink art?
1. Comfortable
2. Long lasting
3. Eco-friendly
4. Skin friendly
5. Unique designs
Handcrafted wooden ink prints are not limited to the fashion industry only, nowadays, handicrafts are also trending in the home decor industry. Day by day the craze for this kind of clothing is increasing, and the foremost reasons are:
1. Long-term durability
2. Freshness
3. Comfort
Block printing is an unbreakable part of fashion in clothing because it gives an aesthetic & elegant essence to the clothes without losing their comfort & freshness.
HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL BLOCKPRINT TECHNIQUES.
If we talk about the enriching history of block printing, it’s been present in our stories & culture of many places in countries for around 2000 years. This has a strong recognition in India. During the ancient times, our queens & kings used to wear handcrafted clothes, among which block-printed clothes & fabrics are the most popular.
Mainly, in parts of Rajasthan & Gujarat, block-printed clothes are most famous. Example: Jaipuri, Sanganeri & Bagru prints are the talk of the town. Previously, these designs were made using only hands, but now they are also being made using machines & technologies. Now handcrafted textile art is spreading in areas of Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh too.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS OF WOODBLOCK TEXTILE ART.
Block printing is a very intricate, skill-based process in which beautiful patterns and designs are made on the clothes using either inks or natural dyes. For woodblock textile art, we require very skilled artisans, high-quality wood, and natural dyes.
Every fabric has a different & unique hand touch that makes it different from machine fabrics.
We have the following process of block printing on fabrics:
1. Preparing block design: Firstly, different blocks are made out of quality wood of sheesham or teak because it is durable & strong, so it will last long.
2. Preparing dye: Colors are created in two ways: either through chemicals or naturally extracted. During ancient times, haldi , indigo, and madder colors were used, which are extracted naturally.
3. Preparing the fabric: The next step is the piece of cloth on which they want to do traditional fabric printing is washed properly & they fix a color that they want on the cloth & then the cloth is dipped in that solution so that the color perfectly sets over the cloth.
4-Block printing: After creating fabric, the artisans dip the wooden block in the dye & then press that block cautiously over the fabric, & this needs 100% accuracy & precision.
5. Finishing: The last step is that after all the above steps, the fabric is left to dry. In ancient times, fabric was left under the sun to dry, but now this can also be done through machines.
Which fabric is best for handcrafted ink prints?
1. Cotton: The most used fabric for ink printing is cotton because it’s breathable, comfortable & durable. It is mostly preferred in daily-use styling.
2. Silk: If you want a royal, elegant & classic look for a special occasion, silk is the right choice for fabric ink printing.
3. Muslin: This fabric is very soft, lightweight & breathable, giving a very sophisticated look.
4. Chanderi: This is mostly used for dupattas & sarees, as it’s quite a shiny & lightweight fabric.
What are the different types of famous handmade designs?
1. Bagru prints: this ancient artwork technique is famous for its earthy vibes and geometrical patterns, for which the major shades of colors are brown & beige.
2 Jaipuri prints: This is the famous Rajasthan’s block print in which floral designs and pastel vibes are used to make it elegant and pleasing to the eyes, for which the major shades are pink , red & blue.
3 Sanganeri prints: their bright colors & intricate floral patterns make this type of handcrafted print vibrant & bright. This is mostly done on cotton or mulmul fabric, which is best for comfortable clothing.
4. Ajrak Print: this is the traditional print of Gujarat & Sindh in which symmetrical & bold patterns are used.
5. Dabu print: this technique is famous in some areas of Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh.
Nowadays, block print is not constrained to fabrics only; it is used in various industries like home decor that gives our homes a very vibrant & classy look. In home decor, the main use of handcraft printing is in bedsheets, pillow covers, curtains, wall hangings, and cutlery, and this list is increasing day by day.
Block printing is sustainable, durable & handcrafted fashion which has reached a global level now, but the main problem is how to buy them in original quality & not just a lookalike of woodblock textile art.
How to identify original quality traditional handcrafted fabrics?
1. Original or fake: real handmade block prints are uneven in design, but machine-made fabrics are perfectly even & uniform.
2 quality fabrics: the quality of the fabric for block printing is either cotton or silk because they are long-lasting, breathable & durable.
3 colours: original block prints involve natural dyes, which are chemical-free & good for your skin.
4 Jaipur, Bagru & Sanganer are most famous for real, original, aesthetic & authentic block printing.
5 certifications: handcrafted & handmade certified products are originals.
Block prints are prestigious, heritage, ancient artworks which are still trending in fashion. This makes every fabric & article unique & have a different handmade touch; it’s not just fashion or trend; it’s our culture, & it should always be preserved & evergreen.
FAQs
- What is block printing?
It’s an art form in which artisans make beautiful handmade ink patterns & designs over different fabrics to give elegance, comfort & durability without losing its freshness.
2. Which are the famous prints of block printing?
Bagru, Jaipuri & Sanganeri prints are the most famous prints of handicraft textile art.
3. How to buy original quality fabric?
Patterns & prints are uneven in handmade textile art & try to buy from the areas of
Rajasthan, like Sanganer or Jaipur, & check if it is certified as a handmade product or article.
Are you ready to explore authentic hand block-printed fabrics? Shop from trusted artisans and bring timeless elegance into your wardrobe today.