Have you noticed how most ancient textile art forms are eco-friendly? There are many traditional methods of fabric dyeing, weaving and printing that are examples of sustainable practices. Hand block printing is no exception.

Hand block printing is an ancient textile art form that has a rich history which can be traced back to the 5th century BC with its roots in India, China and Japan.

As with most ancient practices, every process in hand block printing, including the preparation of cloth, is labour intensive and time-consuming.

A host of artisans are involved in the process. Alongside the printers are the masters of colour, the dye experts. The secrets of plant based dyes extracted from local vegetation have been kept as alchemical traditions of this craft for centuries.

The wood blocks are also hand carved and this traditional art has been passed from generation to generation. 

The prints are beautiful renditions of plants, animals and human culture and showcase the beauty of nature. Each hand block printed fabric tells its own unique story.

If you look closely at these fabrics you will see how intricate the work is, the hand of the artisan is evident in the little imperfections that make this fabric unique. You will not see this on factory made cloth. 

In this era of mass produced textiles here is a beautiful textile that is made by hand with skill and care. 

At RainbowLife we believe that hand block printing is a unique textile art form that deserves appreciation and recognition. We celebrate within this art form the  respectful relationship between plants, nature and people.