The Art of Block Printing
The art of block printing began in the 18th century in Rajasthan and the craft has been passed down from generation to generation. The finest contemporary block printing is still found in Rajasthan. Block printing creates intricate design, depth and texture in rich and vibrant colors. The fabric on which the block is printed 100% cotton voile. The fabric is stretched over the printing table and fastened with small pins.
The blocks are then dipped in dye and imprinted onto the fabric by a skilled artisan. To develop the intricate detail within the design, the process is repeated several times with different colors to complete the design.
What is Long Staple Cotton?
Long staple cotton is derived from the Gossypium barbadense species of cotton, which yields cotton with unusually long, silky fibers. Because the longer the cotton fiber, the stronger, softer, and more durable the resulting fabric. Fabrics made of long-staple cottons fray less, pill less, wrinkle less, and even fade less than fabrics made with their short-staple counterparts.
Short fibers mean a less durable, weaker, coarser fabric, with more exposed ends. A longer staple means the fibers are longer and stronger, and so can be spun into long, very fine yarns that produce a smoother, softer feeling fabric that you can enjoy for many years.