An Introduction Of Ajrakh Block Printing
Ageless Ajrak fabric is known for its beautiful prints, mainly dominated by shades of red and blue put together in spread-out patterns. Ajrak prints fabric has its roots in the Indus valley civilisation dating back to 2500 BC -1500 BC. This unique block-printed fabric is made in Sindh, Pakistan, Kutch in Gujarat, and Barmer in Rajasthan. It is said that Ajrakh printing was at its peak in India around the 16th century when the Khatri community from Sindh (current Pakistan) migrated to Kutch in Gujarat. The ruler of Kutch province was so enamoured by Ajrakh prints that he encouraged the talented artisans that belonged to the Khatri community to inhabit the lands of Kutch Gujarat and bring that beauty of Ajrakh alive. Today, the villages of Ajrakhpur in Kutch and Barmer in Rajasthan are devoted to making Ajrakh fabric for the newer generations. The dominant colours found in Ajrakh are red and indigo, representing Earth and twilight, respectively. However, contemporary Ajrakh prints also have added the vibrancy of yellows and oranges. Traditionally, black and white colours are used for outlining the designed motif.
Eco-Friendly Natural Dyed Dupattas
Making Ajrakh print fabric is a long and arduous process and is deeply connected with water and its quality. It is said that the iron content of the water decides the outcome of the fabric. There are several stages involved in making Ajrakh.First, ajrakh material is made using the resist printing technique. This unique technique allows the absorption of dye or natural dye only in the intended areas according to the desired pattern. Then, the fabric is washed several times using mordants, oils and camel dung to get the desired effects and vibrant colours.
Once the fabric goes through the many steps before the final dyeing, the material is ready for Ajrakh printing. The artisans use a special resist paste and then start dying; this step is repeated several times before the final design is achieved in deep red and indigo shades. Although Ajrakh printing takes a lot of time and effort to make, it is said that the longer the wait time between the steps, the final look of the fabric will be more mesmerising. A well-made Ajrakh material can take 2-3 weeks to make. One can only imagine the skills possessed by the artisans that make these Ajrakh Hand Block Print fabrics. Earlier, cotton was the primary fabric used for printing Ajrakh. However, with demands for different materials taking over, materials such as cotton-silk blends, silk, modal, chanderi etc., are incorporated for making traditional Ajrakh prints.
Things Which Make Ajrakh Unique & Distinctive:
Ajrakh stands out for its vivid patterns put together after 22 stages of very diverse and time-consuming preparations for the outcome. Ajrakh hand block print fabrics mostly use natural dyes and hand-carved wooden blocks for printing. The primary colours in Ajrakh are crimson-red derived from madder plants. Indigo blue comes from the Indigo plant. Iron shaving, millet flour, and molasses mixed with tamarind seeds make black dye for printing.
We have bespoke naturally dyed dupattas here at iTokri. You will find a wide variety of pure cotton dupattas that adorn beautiful handblock prints in mulberry silk as well. All our Ajrakh dupattas come straight from weavers & artisans who have been associated with making Ajrakh fabrics, dupattas and sarees for generations.
Best Gift For Females
If you are looking for gifts for women's day or mother's day gifts, our Ajrakh dupattas make the best gifting options for women as each dupatta is one of a kind. The women in your family will surely appreciate these beautiful dupattas.
Why Buy A Dupatta From iTokri?
iTokri, an Indian handicraft store has a unique collection of handloom, hand-embroidered, and hand-worked products online. All our products are directly sourced from master artisans and shipped to the customers to ensure that we provide the most authentic products. iTokri believes in building long-lasting and trusting relationships with its customers across the globe. Our vast collection of clothing, silver jewellery and accessories is unmatched online. We are your one-stop-shop for Indian fabrics online, handloom sarees, Indian art and Diwali gifts online. We take bulk orders too.
Faqs
Do dupattas make for a good gifting option?
The art of making Ajrakh prints goes back centuries and is made by a community that has dedicated its life to it. Ajrakh printed dupattas are exquisite works of art that cannot be duplicated in any form and will always be considered a unique gift.
Which dupatta Fabric is best?
At iTokri, you can choose from various fabrics such as cotton and silk Ajrakh dupattas.
