Traditional hand block printing from Jaipur, India, is a revered and centuries-old art form that embodies the rich cultural heritage of the region. This intricate and meticulous craft involves the use of wooden blocks carved with intricate designs, often inspired by nature, folklore, or historical motifs. But we have designed our own modern patterns and had them executed in this traditional method creating a collection that has a fresh feeling.
First, the designs are traced onto and carved into wooden blocks. The blocks are then soaked in oils to season and seal the wood to make them suitable for grabbing the color. For a simple patterns, this process takes at least a week. For a complicated pattern, it can take up to a month!
We provide Pantone references to the master color technician who matches them and mixes the colors. The pigments are then poured into trays where the craftsperson saturates the color pads and makes sure the color is evenly distributed.
Now the magic starts to happen. Each color is applied individually, so for the pattern shown here, there are five individual blocks required to print the design. The artisan will decide how much pressure to apply based on their experience. Darker colors usually require less pressure, while heavier cottons require more pressure overall to make sure the color seeps into the fabric. There are so many variables to the process including the weather! But the end result is that our fabrics look almost as if they’ve been hand painted, and each section of the pattern will have its own unique qualities. No two prints will ever be the same.
Kantha
The Ultimate Upcycled and Eco-Friendly fabric.
Crafted from layered saris and uneven stitching, Kantha throws are a great example of recycling and up-cycling. The art form has rich cultural roots. For centuries, Bengali women have stitched together saris they no longer wear to form blankets and cushions and other decorative items for the families and homes. We’ve sourced these vintage Kanthas and added modern embroideries to them to create a new product that is up-cycled, modern and finely detailed.
Vintage Kanthas have a wonderfully soft hand with very fine stitching and each piece is unique and frequently is specific to an individual family or village. We then work with craftspeople to embroider our modern designs ib crewel work on hand guided machines on top of the kantha bases. The pieces are produced by individuals. No two pillows will ever be exactly the same.
