Everyone demands for fine print work on a fine fabric. It just takes a moment for us to select one of those starling piece of cloth, embossed with miscellaneous patterns. But its an endeavor to contrive such piece of fabric that pleases our eyes so much. In India Block printing is one of the most practiced textile printing technique. It requires lots of labor, craftsmanship and artistic precision. Where modern techniques are contaminating the environment block printing is proving to be sustainable yet efficient way of producing even printed fabrics in mass.
The process starts from fabricating fine threads into a soft and smooth piece of cloth. The cloth is bleached free of any pigmentation and starch, if there is any tie-die to do, it is done now. Crafting grooved pattern on wooden blocks is another work of precision. Woods such as teak, sycamore and pear, and are lovingly hand-carved in a myriad of intricate designs that are first made using chalk paste or a pencil on paper. Post this, they are soaked in oil for 10-15 days to soften the timber. The colors are prepared and kept on a tray containing glue and pigment binder to ensure a soft base for the color, and to allow it to easily spread on the block. After all these basic preparation is attained, the cloth is pinned on the flat surface, the blocks are dipped in the color and then pressed on to the fabric. This process is repeated over and over again until the length of the fabric is complete. Precision is demanded by the artisans to ensure there are no breaks in the motifs. If there are multiple colors, other blocks are used and the artisan waits for the first print to dry first. This tedious task of many artisans brings us the flawless designs peppered with human imperfections.
mimesis 