Block Printing

This process involves sketching and carving a design into a block of wood, applying ink or dye, and stamping it onto a finished cloth. Block printing differs from weaving in that the pattern is applied to the surface rather than woven into the material. 

“The magic of block printing lies in the rhythmic pattern of stamping over the fabric, one layer over another, with a result that is regular yet imperfect, a celebration of the human touch. There is a musical repetition in putting the block on the ground fabric, pounding it on the cloth, placing it on the ink. The steady refrain creates a dance and movement with the application of the pattern, a physical manifestation of the motif into cloth. In some countries, once the fabric has been entirety printed, it is hung from the highest story of the building, and the long lengths of cloth flap in the wind, drying in the air in a patchwork throughout the city’s walls.”  - Adèle