Behind the Blocks

A journey into Ajrakh & Naturally-Dyed Block printing.

Hand block printing in India is a craft woven through generations, a quiet, deliberate art form kept alive by families who have practiced it for centuries. For me, every visit to our artisans is a reminder that these textiles are not just products. They are stories, memories, and skills passed down like heirlooms. Ajrakh, especially, feels like a living tradition - one shaped by colour, time, and human touch. 

A Craft Rooted in Lineage

Block printing has existed in India for over 500 years, making it one of the oldest textile arts in the country. Communities in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh have preserved this skill across generations, often with entire families working together in the same workshop. The craft survives not because it is easy, but because it is cherished.
Unlike machine production, block printing relies on slowness and intention. Every step is unhurried, and every decision is made with care, from carving the blocks to preparing the dyes. It remains one of the few crafts where the human hand is visible in every inch.

The Art of the Blocks

The process begins with the blocks themselves -  hand-carved from teak or sheesham wood, often featuring motifs inspired by nature: lotus flowers, paisleys, leaf clusters, birds, vines, and geometric patterns. Watching these blocks being carved is like witnessing a language being shaped. A slip of the chisel can alter the rhythm of the entire design.

One of my personal favourite parts of the process is exploring the artisans’ archives during our visits. Our workshops have blocks created by their great-grandfathers, alongside new ones carved by the younger generation. There are often hundreds of motifs, sometimes over 500 neatly stacked. Going through them feels like reading a visual history book, one block at a time.

Colours Born From Nature

Ajrakh is unique because it uses only natural dyes, colours made from plants, roots, minerals, and food. These dyes behave differently from modern inks; they require deep knowledge of chemistry and patience.

Indigo comes from fermented leaves and reveals its blue only when exposed to air. Madder root gives warm reds and pinks. Pomegranate rind creates earthy yellows. Turmeric & Henna offers a luminous gold. Every colour reacts uniquely to sunlight, water, and temperature, which is why no two batches look exactly the same.

Natural-dyed fabrics age beautifully. Instead of fading, they soften, settling into tones that feel lived-in and organic. This is the charm of Ajrakh, it evolves with time rather than diminishing.

Rhythm, Precision, and Human made

Once the dye and fabric are prepared, the printing begins. The artisan dips the block into dye and presses it onto the cloth with steady, practiced movements. The sound - tap, tap, tap - becomes almost meditative.

Aligning each placement requires absolute precision. Many designs use multiple blocks, one for each colour, layered with exact registration. Nothing about this process is mechanical; it is rhythm, muscle memory, and mindfulness.

Motifs That Carry Stories

Traditional block-print motifs are not merely decorative. They often hold symbolic meaning rooted in culture and folklore: The lotus signifies purity and resilience, and Paisleys represent abundance and growth; Geometric repeats reflect balance and harmony.

Many of the blocks used today are heirlooms - physical pieces of heritage passed down through generations of artisans. Working with them feels like participating in a story that began long before us.

The Importance of Natural Fabrics

Block printing with natural dyes works best on natural fabrics. Organic cotton, mulmul, and handwoven silks hold the pigment beautifully and allow the colours to breathe. Choosing these fabrics is a way of honouring the craft as it was originally meant to be practiced. It also ensures the textile remains sustainable, comfortable, and authentic.

A Living Craft Worth Preserving

What makes Ajrakh special is not just the visual beauty of the final fabric but the philosophy behind it. It celebrates slowness, nature, and the human hand, values that feel increasingly rare in today’s world of fast fashion. Each piece is a collaboration between us, the artisan, the environment, and tradition.

Whenever I stand in a block-printing workshop, surrounded by the scent of natural dyes and the rhythm of wooden blocks, I’m reminded that this craft exists because generations chose to preserve it. Ajrakh is more than a technique. It is a cultural legacy, one that honours the earth and its people.

Behind every block-printed textile lies a lineage of artisans, a vocabulary of motifs, and colours born from nature. When you hold it, you hold history.