Ajrakh Hand Block Printed 3 Piece fabric Set - Black Cypress

Look closely and the ground shifts  indigo settling into the vine, madder warming the cypress, cream holding the outline steady. That depth comes from layering: each colour is a separate carved block, pressed by hand, one impression at a time across the full length of the fabric. Register by eye, rhythm by memory.

The kurta panel carries the sarv buti the cypress, an old ajrakh motif that stands for endurance. It's bordered on both sides by a running jaal of paisley and star-flower, the kind of dense fill work that takes the most practised hand on the table. The dupatta repeats the pattern in a softer scale and ends in indigo tassels, knotted by hand.

Made to be worn often. Cotton that softens with every wash, and a print that settles rather than fades.

Ajrakh is a slow craft  sixteen to twenty rounds of printing, washing, dyeing and sun drying, with the fabric returning to the river and the sun between each stage. Slight variations in the print register and colour depth are not flaws. They are the record of a human hand.

Details

• Craft: Ajrakh hand block printing, natural dyes
• Origin: Kutch, Gujarat
  
• Set includes: Kurta fabric, bottom (pajama) fabric, dupatta
• Kurta length: 2.5 m
• Bottom length: 2.5 m 
• Dupatta: 2.25 m x 1.1 m, with hand-knotted tassels.
• Colours:black, indigo, red.
• Unstitched fabric set
• Handmade — minor irregularities in print alignment and dye depth are inherent to the craft

Wash Care

• Dry clean recommended for the first wash
• Thereafter, hand wash separately in cold water using a mild liquid detergent or reetha (soap nut)
• Never bleach. Avoid detergents with optical brighteners or enzymes
• Do not soak for more than 5 minutes
• Some colour will run in the first two or three washes this is normal for natural dye and settles on its own
• Dry in shade, inside out. Direct sunlight will flatten the madder
• Iron on medium heat, on the reverse side
• Store folded in cotton or muslin, away from damp