Printing with blocks requires great precision and craftsmanship. It's all about hitting the mark! The most challenging part is getting all the different colors to land where they should. Therefore, the entire pattern is often initially printed with only thin lines, as a first step. These lines then serve as guidelines for the printer – and they also create a nice effect!
We get to try block printing ourselves. It doesn't go very well. It's challenging to take the right amount of ink and achieve an even pressure on the block to avoid smudges. I wasn't very good at this – oh dear. Luckily, we humans are good at different things!
The most challenging print we're currently working on is this striped fabric. Here, there are no guide lines, and the printer must rely entirely on their visual judgment. Sometimes, simplicity can indeed be the most sophisticated.
Another technique is printing with CLAY, known as MUD PRINT. During our visit, the factory had just received a large PILE of clay waiting for processing. The clay is turned into a paste and then printed on the fabric using blocks. Once the clay has dried, the printed fabric is dipped in color. The clay remains, acting as a resist on the fabric, similar to the use of wax in batik. Using clay only works when the dye baths are cold; otherwise, the clay will run off.
The most common color used in mud printing is INDIGO. Fabrics are dipped into color wells several meters deep. Initially, the fabric turns green but acquires the magically beautiful blue shade when the color reacts with oxygen.
Other plant-based dyes used include pomegranate and turmeric, both of which impart a yellow tone. The Indian pigment ratanjyot provides red, and our new favorite "kashish" is extracted from iron, mixed with sugar, resulting in a brown-black color.
Join us for the next post. Now, it's time for some city exploration!
Best regards from Pia in the design team.
