History
Craft of hand block printing is a very old art used to
print clothes using vegetable colors with the help of wooden or metal
blocks. A statue wearing the hand block printed scarf found on the site of
"Mohe-Jo-Daro" traces the history of craft of hand block printing
done in that place some 4000 years ago. In Indian sub-continent its origin or
birth place is considered to be the Sindh province of today's Pakistan.
""Khatri"or "Chhippa"community mainly involved in the
craft of hand block printing in this region since many centuries and later
migrated to Gujarat and other parts of India to promote their craft and also in
search of new regions to expand their business. In Rajasthan and some parts of
Madhya Pradesh "Chippa" Community traces their roots with the "Sant
Namdev" a devotional saint of 13th century and tailor by profession. This
"Chippa" community consider themselves a descendant of Saint
Namdev.
Present Scenario
Even today Bagh village and Tarapur villages in Madhya
Pradesh, Kutch region of Gujarat, various towns and villages in Rajasthan,
in India are the major centers where craft of traditional hand block
printing is practiced using the the traditional process it was practiced
400 to 1000 years ago with some minor changes. Traditionally vegetable colors
were used in printing and dyeing of fabrics.
Today there are many urban and rural centers of hand
block printing chemical colors, direct colors and pigments used for printing
and chemical dyes introduced. But the use of all these chemical colors not only
polluting the sources of clean water but also not good for skin. Few researches
suggested that most of the chemical dyes are unsafe for our skin and gave birth
to many skin related diseases. Still there are few centers left in India where
traditional process and vegetable colors used in printing and dyeing.
Today EcoFab is
promoting traditional craft of hand block printing by emphasizing more on using
natural/herbal dyes and eco-friendly colors in the process.
Traditionally varieties of cotton and silk fabrics
used in hand block printing industry but other natural fiber based fabrics like
modal and viscose fabrics are also used in printing.
To know more about us explore the links below:
Website: www.ecofab.in
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EcoFabricIndia
