How Far Back Does the Art of the Block Printing Date

Communities in Bharat have been using the art of block printing to pattern fabric for thousands of years. The precise date when the technique was start applied is not known, simply archaeological evidence has unearthed remnants of Rajasthani prints dating from the tertiary century CE at the Roman trading boondocks of Palmyra, Syria.

For centuries, artisan communities in Rajasthan flourished under regal patronage. Wealthy patrons with a gustation for the beautiful and ornate supported a wide range of creative and creative industries in the region, making information technology ane of the almost beautiful places to visit anywhere in India or indeed the world.  Cities such every bit Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur are world famous for their unique and colourful architecture and the detailed patterns decorating many of these cities' buildings is reflected in the design of the region'south textiles.

The famous Patrika Gate in Jaipur
The famous Patrika Gate in Jaipur – one of the urban center'due south many architectural wonders

Cities such equally Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur are world famous for their unique and colourful architecture and the detailed patterns decorating many of these cities' buildings is reflected in the design of the region'southward textiles Click To Tweet

Rajasthan's fabrics with their intricate designs were not solely produced for royals families and their courtiers. They were likewise very popular with the wider population, who purchased printed material to make clothing for festivals and special occasions.

Fabrics were as well traded forth the silk road across Asia and into Europe, too equally by boat around the Indian Ocean to East Africa and across.

Map of the Sil Rd trade route

With the inflow of the British East India Company in 1600, a large trade of printed textiles began between India and Europe. Fabrics such equally paisley or chintz became very popular, driving the marketplace even further.

<<< Click to Tweet: The British Eastward India Visitor in 1600 increased the trade of printed textiles betwixt India and Europe. Fabrics such equally paisley or chintz became very popular>>>

Length of cloth with floral pattern. Jaipur, India, tardily 19th century

This growth was sustained until the mid-19th century, where the Industrial Revolution saw technological advances such as the steam-powered loom and mechanical printer create new textile industries in the Britain. Factories in large mill towns such equally Darwen and Blackburn used imported cotton to create clothing for the European market. The Rajasthani handmade cloth manufacture could not compete with such big scale, mechanised production and the manufacture contracted significantly.

Machines making cotton thread in a mill in Lancashire England ca 1835
Machines making cotton wool thread in a factory in Lancashire England ca 1835

Whilst the export market place for paw weaved and printed textile dried up, the skilled artisans in Rajasthan were all the same producing fabric for the local market. These fabrics over again became popular in the West during the 1960'due south and 70's following the arrival of young hippies travelling overland from Europe to India. Local printers teamed upwards with freelance designers to create contemporary print collections that would be popular on the King'south Route or Carnaby Street in London.

Hippies visiting Republic of india in the 1960'southward and lxx'south caused a resurgence of printed fabrics Click To Tweet

Musician Jimi Hendrix wearing printed shirt and jacket
Jimi Hendrix oft seen in printed shirts and jackets during the 1970s

Printed fabrics in India are traditionally worn for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. This is still very much the case today.

We at Wild Rose recognise the incredible heritage that our fabric has and experience enormously privileged to work with artisans whose skills can be traced dorsum through fourth dimension. Whilst the cut of our shirts is contemporary, the designs nosotros use are a mixture of ancient patterns that have been used in Rajasthan for centuries and the more contempo designs that originated in the 1960's and 70'southward. We love to see our customers enjoying our shirts and take swell pride in seeing our cake printed shirts beingness worn with joy all effectually the globe!

Looking for inspiration on how to wear printed shirts? Cheque out our blog here

montage of people wearing printed shirts from Wild Rose Kenya
Some of our friends enjoying our shirts effectually the world

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Source: https://wildrose.co.ke/a-brief-history-of-block-printing-from-300ce-to-modern-day/

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