Some recent adventures!: Ujjain Block Printing

This project is a part of the State Government’s initiative in development and promotion of handicrafts and handlooms of the state. As a professional Textile Designer I was given the opportunity of being the principal designer in this project. I was to look at the current

collections and designs already running in the market and make suitable changes in the existing designs and colour combinations by suggesting new placement of blocks and

attractive colour schemes in Chemical Printing keeping in mind the National and International market.

India has been renowned for its block printed and dyes cloth since the 12th century and the creative processes flourished as the fabric received royal patronage. Different styles of design have evolved in different parts of the country. It has been fascinating to view this process in Bherogarh, Ujjain located in Madhya Pradesh, India and get my own layouts and unique colour combinations implemented.

Every workshop has a separate collection of blocks made of seasoned teakwood by trained craftsmen hand carved by the block maker, are all distinct from each other and help create various combination of designs.

The complete process of printing has been intriguing in itself.

Preparing the fabric through washing, stretching the fabric onto the print table, preparing the pigment dyes, transferring of dyes onto the colour trays, dipping the block into the dye tray, printing on the cloth, drying of cloth and finishing.