Oh my! Summer already? Fantastic! Let's look at some of the traditional Indian prints and patterns that complement current season in India.

Hello my Four Sides TV Fashion Fam!

India has a long history of capturing the beauty, art, and history of our nation via prints and vivid colors. 

We have always displayed our culture via it, starting with our own prints of India, which range from Kalamkari to Ikat, Ajrakh to Batik. Let's talk about some of the traditions that are followed in our country when it comes to printing and Dyeing. Some of the greatest prints to go with your summer look include Dabu, Bagh, Ikat, Ajrakh, Kalamkari, and Batik. Since cotton and other skin-friendly materials are typically used in the historical techniques for creating these patterns, they may provide excellent skin breathability given India's current hot climate. 

Kalamkari:

The word "Kalamkari" is translated as "Pencraft" where "kalam" means pen and "kari" denotes artwork. With the use of a tamarind brush, this exquisite work of art was created by hand using an unusual and ancient method on cotton or silk cloth.The process of making kalamkari involves twenty-three steps. The primary locations of Kalamkari paintings and artwork are in Andhra Pradesh, specifically in Machilipatnam and Kalahasti. Srikalahasti was the primary hub of this craft because of the abundant supply of fresh, clear river water there.

Batik:

Batik is an old art style with a long history dating back thousands of years. It has been practiced in a variety of nations, including Indonesia, the Middle East, Thailand, Africa, Malaysia, India, China, and the Philippines. The term "batik" originated in the Javanese language, where "ambatik" meaning "to mark with spots or dots." India, for example, developed and incorporated these techniques into its creative traditions, emphasizing the importance of batik as an art form.

Dabu:

"Dabu" translates to "Dabana" in Hindi, which means "to press". As a result, it is the technique of dipping various shapes and sizes of mud-resistant blocks in natural dyes. The blocks are then pressed onto numerous textiles. Dabu was first practiced in Central Asia before moving to Rajasthan, India, in the eighth century A.D., where it is today a well-known manufacturer of popular block print fabric materials. Akola, a small village in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh area, is where this technique originated.

Ajrakh:

The craft of Ajrakh Block Printing originated 400 years ago in Sindh, Pakistan, among the Khatri community's artisans. Later, the group moved to Gujarat's Kutch and Rajasthan's Barmer, where they carried on with their traditional artistic practices. The block-printed symmetrical patterns in crimson red and indigo blue on cotton fabric are what distinguish and make Ajrakh cloth immediately recognizable.

Bagh:

Wood blocks

The beauty of this print is that it is hand-printed using natural dyes and classic motifs. The Khatri community, which brought the craft from Sindh 400 years ago, does the majority of the printing. The Bagh printers only use high-quality woods such as Sagwan and Sheesham. Geometric and floral motifs are printed in red and black dyes on a white background. Bagh's most popular motifs are flowers, mangos, coconuts, zig-zag lines, and honeybees. Border designs usually include chain or anklet designs.

Bagh

Ikat:

The term ikat refers to a fabric in which the yarns are dyed before weaving. Although Indonesia is the origin of Ikat, India has long evolved its own distinctive weaving techniques. Ikat is a highly complex and distinctive method that involves dying the threads before to the garment being woven. There are two methods being developed for it: Single Ikat and Double Ikat. Double Ikat is a somewhat more complicated dyeing technique where the warp and weft yarns are resist colored. Single Ikat is a process where either the warp or the weft yarns are dyed separately with different colors. Double Ikat is being practiced only in three countries which are India, China and Indonesia.

Warp Ikat

Weft Ikat

Double Ikat

Stay connected and Stay healthy!

Thank you,

Four Sides TV Fashion.