Block Printing

Gazette Entry No. 3 - History and process of Blockprinting

Blockprinting is an ancient Indian craft dating back over 2,000 years, with roots in the Indus Valley Civilization. Sanskrit manuscripts from the Gupta period mention stambha chitra, the art of stamping designs onto cloth. By the medieval era, royal courts in Rajasthan and Gujarat patronized master craftsmen, spreading blockprinted textiles along caravan routes establishing India as a global center for printed cottons by the 16th century.

Master carvers begin with neem or sheesham wood, hand-carving intricate motifs into small blocks. The surface is treated with oil to ensure smooth prints. Artisans prepare natural dyes, often indigo, madder, and pomegranate, for color, mixing them with mordants like alum to fix the pigment.

On a carefully stretched cloth, the printer aligns the blocks, dips each into dye, and presses firmly by hand, one block at a time to build repeating patterns. Registration marks guide perfect alignment of multiple colors. After stamping, the fabric rests in the sun to set dyes before washing and finishing.

 

Blockprinting sustains thousands of artisan families in rural clusters, preserving generational skills and supporting local economies. Its natural-dye processes promote eco-conscious production, aligning with sustainable fashion movements. The craft also serves as cultural identity blockprinted textiles appear in wedding trousseaus, ritual garments, and everyday attire across India.

Peacock Country aims at reinvigorating blockprinting with innovative color palettes and global collaborations. Workshops and apprenticeships ensure knowledge transfer, while fair-trade certifications and government initiatives protect artisan rights. Today, blockprinted textiles are celebrated worldwide not only for their beauty but for the stories and hands that stamp each cloth.

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