Long before digital printing existed, artisans across Rajasthan and Gujarat were carving wooden blocks by hand to stamp intricate patterns onto cotton, one motif at a time.
A Craft Passed Down Generations
Hand block printing involves carving a design into a teak wood block, dipping it in natural or pigment dye, and pressing it onto fabric in a precise, repeating rhythm. Each block can take days to carve, and a single bedsheet may need three or four different blocks for a multi-colour design.
Why the Slight Imperfections Matter
Unlike machine printing, hand block designs are never perfectly identical repeat to repeat — that gentle irregularity is actually the mark of authentic handwork, not a flaw.
Where You'll See It Today
From Mughal florals to Jaipuri booti patterns, this craft lives on in our handblock print cotton bedsheets and AC dohars. For more on the craft's history and regional styles, see the overview on block printing traditions.
