Revive Your Old Sarees with Hand-Block Printing

We start every overprinting project with a careful assessment of your saree’s fabric strength to ensure it can handle the pressure of our hand-carved blocks. Our goal is to hide stains or refresh fading while keeping the original character of the piece intact. Please note that this service covers the printing process only, so we recommend having your sarees dry cleaned beforehand, as we do not handle structural repairs like darning.

At Tharangini, we view an old saree not as something to be discarded, but as a foundation for a new story. Since 1977, we have been working from our studio in Sadashivnagar, Bangalore, where we treat every piece of fabric with the respect it deserves. Our 'Relove' overprinting service is a testament to this philosophy.

The Process

When you bring your saree to us, we don't just pick a pattern. We look at the weave, the fiber, and the existing condition of the cloth. We then select from our extensive archive of vintage teak blocks—some dating back to the 1960s—to find a design that complements the original piece while masking areas of wear or staining.

We exclusively use organic, natural dyes like indigo, madder root, and pomegranate. These dyes not only give a distinct, earthy finish but are also gentle on the fabric. The printing process involves manual layering of these colors, which helps in creating a fresh aesthetic without overwhelming the saree's history.

Practical Considerations

• Consultation: We invite you to visit our studio with your saree. This allows our artisans to assess the fabric weight and quality before we commit to a specific printing technique.
• What we handle: Our expertise lies in block printing and design overlay. We specialize in covering small imperfections, uneven fading, or stains using intricate floral or geometric motifs.
• What we don't do: We do not offer structural tailoring, darning, or dry cleaning. We recommend ensuring your saree is clean and structurally sound before the printing begins.

By choosing to overprint, you are participating in a sustainable cycle, keeping high-quality textiles in circulation and away from landfills. We look forward to helping you transform your closet staples into new heirlooms.