The story behind the print
Hand block printing
- Origin:
- Sanganer and Bagru, near Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Since:
- About 300 years and more
Carved wooden blocks, natural dyes and printing by hand, the centuries-old craft of Sanganer and Bagru near Jaipur.
Near Jaipur are two famous printing towns. Sanganer is known for fine, delicate florals on a light ground; Bagru, about 30 km away, for earthy reds, indigo and black, printed by the Chhipa community. Both crafts go back about three centuries, and both are registered Geographical Indications of India.
How it is done. A design is carved into wooden blocks, one block for each colour. The printer dips a block in dye, presses it onto the cloth with a firm tap of the hand, and moves along the table, repeat by repeat, lining up each print by eye. Then the next colour follows. Because every impression is made by hand, tiny variations in colour and alignment are normal; they are the mark of a real hand block print, not a flaw.
Our Percale Hand Block sets are hand printed with natural dyes on crisp 300 TC percale cotton. No two pieces are exactly alike. Wash them in cold water with a mild detergent the first few times.
