Ajrakh prints from Ajrakhhpur! These are the famous Indian prints that have a vibrant and distinctive aesthetic value and that are seeing a major market demand today. The recent demand has changed the dynamics of this art itself.
This craft that spreads from the Dhamadka district to Ajrakhhpur has a rich tradition of its production that is rooted in these areas.
The origin of Ajrakh dates back to Harappan civilization. It survived millenniums due to the timeless designs, intricate patterns and attractive prints
Ajrakhhpur’s population resettled here after the 2001 earthquakes of Gujarat. Many Khatri businessmen moved from their native Dhamadka after the earthquake. Ajrakhhpur's workshops have also changed into an industrial area as hundreds of laborers have moved there.
What is Ajrakh?
Ajrakh is a distinct form of block-printing that originated from Sindh of Pakistan. In India it is practiced in Ajrakhhpur, Kutch district of Gujarat. These are special designs, done with block printing stamps.
It is the symbol of the Sindhi culture that has its influence from Indus Valley civilization. Traditionally Ajrakh prints had 3 dominating colors viz. blue, red and white. Ajrakh's distinctive qualities are due to the monopoly of these colours and the handblock prints.
Why is Ajrakh Print special
Centuries old Ajrakh is truly unique for several reasons making it expensive. Here is how it is made:
- Locals prepare Ajrakh print unstitched suit materials and sarees in a sixteen-step process, which involves washing, dyeing, printing, drying and so on. Each step is performed in one day, then fabric is put to rest and used the next day for the next process.
- Each of the colour ingredients in Ajrakh comes from the nature. They use wild indigo, pomegranate bark and seeds etc. to remove starch from the fabric. Artisans skilled in this craft live in Gujarat & Rajasthan in a very local setup, hence it is rare.
- Artisans use rusted iron to create dye! They soak scrap iron, jaggery and tamarind for a fortnight and put it on flame to create the black dye. Among the colours, blue is made from indigo, yellow is made from turmeric and so on. It requires a lot of passion and monitoring for a good outcome.
- These natural dyes expand the pores of the fabric during summers making it airy. These fabric pores close during the winter, keeping you warm.
- It is bright and colourful, and it was originally printed on both sides. It can sometimes take months for an outcome to be reached.
- The wooden blocks for Ajrakh are carved by expert craftsmen on teak wood.
- Ajrakh was earlier worn by men of the rustic community of Kutch, but it is a fashion statement among wealthy buyers today.
- The Ajrakh prints wooden blocks need to be made with a lot of perfection. Even a small error leaves the printing erroneous.
The Imperial fabric of Ajrakh from Fabfonde
Fabfonde brings you India’s ancient textiles in its contemporary form skillfully. Fabfonde constantly strives to feature Ajrakh and make this fabric/print more relatable to today's women’s fashion aspirations. This is our small contribution to make this regal artform popular. We have put together a perfect collection of beautiful Ajrakh sarees and suits.Explore our collection of Ajrakh at Fabfobde.