Block printing

Neelam has chosen to build a lasting partnership with an Indian association working to develop the block printing technique.

The main artisans practising this technique belong to the Khatri community.
Masters of block printing and of natural pigments, the Khatris have been printing their fabrics with this technique for several centuries.
They use combinations of wooden blocks of different shapes and sizes, called “bunta”.

There are two main ways of printing fabrics: direct printing, where the block is dipped in the dye and pressed directly onto the fabric, and resist printing, where the block, dipped in a resist paste (generally made from tamarind seed powder and lime), is applied to the fabric, which is then dyed. When the resist paste is removed, the natural colour of the fabric appears.

By combining these two techniques, using different blocks and playing with plant-based dyes, the artisans can create very complex patterns.
One of their most famous patterns is called “Ajrakh”, which means “stars twinkling in the night”.