Let's Discover about the renowned Rajasthani hand block prints.

Fine printing, pure materials, lovely colours, and a lot of hard labour, I believe this sums up Rajasthan's textile tradition. Rajasthan is an excellent state in India, combining various hues of culture, art, and history. Hand block printing is the type of art we're talking about. Since the 12th century, this art has flourished in this state. This art has been happily passed down to generations of artisans since the kings of that era granted it royal favour. Currently, Rajasthan exports tonnes of printed cloth around the world each year.

The Chippa community of Bagru village is credited for establishing this rich art form, which was later relocated to Sanganer. As a result, block printing has been divided into two categories: Bagru print and Sanganeri print. Traditional plant-based dyes are produced and employed in Bagru style block printing, however, the colours in Sanganeri style are combined with AZO-free pigment dyes. The full block printing procedure is as follows:

1. Block carving:

 A print is first drawn on paper, then precisely carved over an 18-25 centimetre Sheesham or timber wooden block. These blocks are similarly made for each design and hue. The blocks are then soaked in oil for 10-15 days to soften. The blocks have varying names depending on their functions. The'rekh' block, for example, is the block used to print the outline on the fabric. 'Datta' is the name of the fill block, and 'gud' is the name of the ground colour block. Block carving is done totally by hand, and it takes years of practice to carve a beautiful design on a block.

2. Colour preparation:

The colours are prepared after the blocks have been carved. The colours are maintained separately on trays that already contain adhesive and pigment binder solutions. This mixture provides a soft substrate for the colour and allows it to spread evenly throughout the block.

3. Printing:

 the fabric is rinsed to remove any remaining starch. After evening out the colour on the tray, each block is carefully dipped and pressed forcefully on the fabric to leave a clear impression. The outlines of the prints are completed first, and then the other blocks are used to fill in the colour. Because a variety of blocks (depending on design) is printed repeatedly to prepare a piece of cloth, the procedure takes a long time. The fabric is printed and then dried in the sun before being rolled in newspaper to prevent the prints from sticking together. After a wash, it is steamed and dried in the sun again so that the masters are satisfied with the Rajasthani printed shirt's fabric and pattern. The fabric is then ironed, packaged, and shipped to the market.

It is, without a question, the slowest of all textile printing procedures, but it is also the most exclusive and beautiful. Only flowers, foliage, and trees were traditionally carved on blocks, but lately, numerous western patterns influenced by cityscapes and other cultures have emerged. Geometrical and abstract figures are currently popular in hand-block printed shirts. This hand-block printed fabric is available in shirts, sarees, bed sheets, dresses, women's Kurtas, and a variety of other items. They distinguish you from the throng while also making you look sophisticated.