Blockprints from India - Hand-Printed with Wooden Blocks
Indian block print fabrics are printed by hand on cotton or silk using hand-carved wooden blocks. Every impression is placed one at a time, so no two metres are ever quite the same. At Karlotta Pink you'll find three traditional printing techniques: Bagru from Rajasthan, and Ajrakh and Batik from Kutch in Gujarat. All three are resist techniques, yet each has a look entirely its own.
What is block printing?
In block printing, a craftsperson carves a pattern in reverse into a wooden block, usually teak or sheesham. The printer dips the block into dye or resist paste and presses it onto the fabric, impression by impression. Every colour needs its own block. Small shifts, colour variations and visible joins in the pattern are part of the charm – they show that this fabric was made by people, not machines.
Bagru – earthy prints from Rajasthan
Bagru is a village about 30 km from Jaipur in Rajasthan, where families of the Chhipa community have printed fabric by hand for generations. Bagru prints are known for their warm, earthy colours and for dabu printing: a paste of clay, gum and lime is stamped onto the cloth before it is dyed. Wherever the mud paste sits, the fabric stays light, creating soft, slightly irregular patterns.
Dyed with pomegranate peel
Our Bagru fabrics are printed with natural dyes made from dried pomegranate peel, turmeric and beetroot. Each piece takes 15 to 20 days to make. The natural dyes give every fabric its own earthy tone with subtle colour variations.
The people behind it
Some of our Bagru fabrics come from a small cooperative in Bagru. The craft has been handed down in these families for generations, often from father to son. As more and more young printers were leaving the craft, the artisans joined forces, so they can sell their fabrics at fair prices and make a living from their work. Bagru printing is protected in India as a Geographical Indication (GI).
Ajrakh – indigo and madder from Kutch
Ajrakh is one of the oldest printing techniques in the world. The artisans originally came from the Sindh region and settled in Kutch in Gujarat and in Barmer in Rajasthan. To this day, Ajrakh is the traditional dress of the Maldhari herders and the Khatri community around Bhuj. Typical features are deep indigo blue, madder red and black, combined with intricate geometric patterns.
Around 16 steps
An Ajrakh fabric goes through around 16 steps. Using carved teak blocks, the printers apply a resist paste of mud and lime again and again; the cloth is then dyed, washed and dried in the sun. The dyes are natural, such as indigo and madder root. All in all, a single fabric takes two to three weeks. Ajrakh is also protected in India as a Geographical Indication (GI).
The people behind it
Our Ajrakh fabrics come, among others, from small family workshops in Kutch, Gujarat. There, master printers of the Khatri community still print by hand with natural dyes, following the age-old technique passed down through their families.
Batik – wax resist prints from Kutch
In Indian batik, hot wax is stamped onto cotton with carved wooden blocks. The fabric then goes into the dye bath, and wherever the wax sits, it resists the colour. Finally, the wax is boiled off to reveal the pattern. Batik is known for its fine veins and cracks: the dried wax breaks, and the dye seeps into the tiny cracks. That's why no two pieces are ever alike.
The people behind it
Some of our batik fabrics come from a workshop in Kutch, Gujarat, where around 70 to 80 people work today, most of them women. Printing, dyeing and stitching all happen in-house, and the next generation is already learning the craft to keep batik printing alive.
Frequently asked questions about block print fabrics
What are block print fabrics good for? Dresses, blouses, skirts, tunics, trousers, scarves, cushions and table linen. The lightweight cotton is airy and feels lovely against the skin.
Are block print fabrics washable? Yes. Ideally hand wash them, or use a cold gentle cycle with mild detergent, and wash them separately. Some colour may run in the first few washes, especially with naturally dyed fabrics. Dry them in the shade so the colours stay beautiful for longer.
Why does every fabric look a little different? Because every impression is placed by hand. Pressure, the amount of dye and the fabric itself all create small differences. This isn't a flaw – it's the mark of genuine handcraft.
How can I tell real hand block printing? By the small irregularities in the pattern and the faint traces of colour on the reverse side.
Fair and direct
We source our block prints directly from small workshops and cooperatives in India, with no factories involved. This keeps an age-old craft alive and helps the families make a living from it.