Hand Block Printing Art

As it is widely known fact – Rajasthan is one of the major historical centres of Block Printing in the world. The seeds of traditional woodblock print – i.e. Buti Print and Butta Print were laid here by our ancestors. And as the history could be traced to the Rangrez Community and Chippa Community were the first to industrialized the block printing art.

Also, to be noted that currently, we could find various textile products which are dated back to the 7th century that was crafted using the same traditional printing art. Hence, as one of the oldest art form, Handblock Printing is a true gift from our ancestors to the modern world.

Introduction to Hand Block PrintNow as we proceed to the introduction of Hand Block Print Art, we would like you to first understand the word "Chappai". Chappai is the Hindi word for impression printing. As suggested this word indicate to print something using a pre-defined impression. So, in Hand Block Printing Art we impose a pre-carved wooden block over the fabric sheet which results in the creation of design over it.This technique is centuries older than most of the global known parameters and was once only accessible to the royals or the nobles. But now as the production is scaled - the Block Printed products are available to all sections of people. Here, at Srishti Textile - we design and create 1000s of design and colour combination, every year, to meet the current market demands. Also, these demands come mostly from India, European and American markets.

Textile Industry in India is one of the major contributors to the pre-independence GDP of the country. As we were the part of Golden Silk Route - the items produced here were exported to many Asian and European landmasses. The famous Pashmina textile of Kashmir, Banarasi Silk Cloths and Printed Cotton Fabric of Rajputana were key merchandise of that era.

In Rajasthan, the art was supported by the Royal Family of Jaipur. Here, in Sanganer Town, you can still found 100s of families from Chippa and Rangreez Community that work in these professions from generations. They were settled here on orders of the Kings and throughout history, they were actively producing goods that helped our state to collect revenues and taxes from the export and trade.

Also, on may historical texts, evidence could be found of Rulers gifting dresses made using the Block Print Cotton and Silk Fabrics to other states. So it can be easily deduced that this art was considered "Noble". On the other hand, just because of this, not all caste were allowed to wear the same products. We found extensive texts that suggest that people belonging to Upper Caste were only granted use of Block Printed Textile products. So, that could be the reason for most labours and farmers were dressed in White Cloths.

Also, many of these texts suggest that some of the castes have specified designs of Buti Designs that they were allowed to wear. Mostly to classify once caste.

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