Indian Block Printing

I just love this ancient form of fabric printing. I am planning on most of my girls clothing line to be made from cotton voile using this type of dying. I love the way the dye sits on the fabric, they become one with the fabric.

Indian block printing on cotton voile as a bedspread

An artist in action. Such precision

A Potted History of Wooden Block Printing
Printing Block Printing began in the middle of the third millennium B.C. in the North West corner of India, now called Rajasthan and Gujarat. Locally grown hardwood, such as teak was harvested and carved by skilled artisans, soaked in olive oil and then dried in the Indian sun. The process is still going on unchanged some four and a half thousand years later.While the process might have remained unchanged in India, across the rest globe block printing has led a varied and distinguished life. The Industrial Revolution in England saw block printing brought into Britain's factories block printed cloth was mass produced on an enormous scale for distribution throughout the world. This proliferation landed block printing so firmly in the public eye that, by the mid Victorian era, fashionable artists began to adopt the technique. William Morris is probably foremost amongst these: indeed his patterns are still popular today and can be best enjoyed at the William Morris museum. This elevation of block printing to high art gave rise to its use in high fashion around the beginning of the twentieth century. Costume designers like Leon Bakst used the technique to create some of the most startling productions that the Ballet Russe has ever seen. In the middle of the last century block printing became ubiquitous and lost some of its cachet. Certainly in the 70's there was a sharp decline in its popularity. It will take a revolution like the one started by The Indian Block Company to bring block printing back to where is rightfully belongs.

The Indian Block Company sustainable employment for highly skilled craftsmen living in a historically and cultural  areas in the world. The Indian Block Company sells selections of these incredible printing blocks, either chosen by the skilled employees of the company or designed by Jamie Malden. Alternatively, if you have a specific design in mind our carpenters will carve it just for you as a 'one off' creation. If you are an experienced printer or, want to try it for the first time, The Indian Block Company's Printing Blocks are the prefect resource for fabric design, textile art and mixed media projects.

This is from here.... http://www.theindianblockcompany.com