11 - Traditional block printing for sustainability

Abstract

The ability to obtain the dye from renewable natural sources makes natural dyes an attractive dye class for more sustainable world. Natural dyes can be applied on the fibers not only with dyeing method but also with printing method. Ancient people use to print/draw on fabric along with leather, wall, and their surroundings. The choice of color was always natural, dark, enduring like Indigo, Madder, Lac, etc. Later the printing art had been adopted in a more organized/planned way with different block printing techniques, which include Bagru, Daboo, Batik, etc. The block printing was generally carried out with wooden blocks using hand. Block printing traditionally uses natural dyes as mixture of mud-resist dabu and indigo dip dyeing techniques along with Myrobalan. Most of the traditional methods used natural auxiliaries for better color development encouraging sustainable development along with preserving the lineage of heritage art forms. These different block printing techniques can be potential revenue generator if developed as organized sector.