Hand-Carved Wood Blocks & Textile Printing
From a raw piece of seasoned teak to the final impression on fabric, we honour the ancient, rhythmic craft of handblock printing in our Bangalore studio.
We use simple, ingenious techniques to ensure flawless multi-color designs. By tracing and coloring each portion of a design, our carvers create separate blocks that fit together like a puzzle, allowing for precise alignment and beautiful, layered prints without fancy equipment.
Watch the carving process of a traditional four-color floral design. Each color requires a separate, meticulously carved block, with details like delicate paisleys hidden within the pattern. These small ornaments are what make our block print designs so unique.
Minimizing waste is a core part of our sustainable practice. Our master carvers skillfully place designs to use every inch of the precious teak wood, and leftover slivers are recycled to patch broken blocks or used for other creative purposes.
We are currently accepting new students for our woodblock carving workshop. This is a rare opportunity to learn the entire process, from using hand-forged tools to creating your own block, directly from our master artisans.
When we say minimal wastage, we mean it. Our master carvers fit multiple designs onto a single piece of naturally seasoned teak wood. These blocks are built to last for generations, with some in our archive being over 70 years old.
When we say minimal wastage, we mean it. Our master carvers fit multiple designs onto a single piece of naturally seasoned teak wood. These blocks are built to last for generations, with some in our archive being over 70 years old.
A single piece of teak wood holds two distinct, heart and lotus-faced motifs. This efficient use of material is a testament to the skill of our carvers and our commitment to sustainable craft at every stage of the process.
A single piece of teak wood holds two distinct, heart and lotus-faced motifs. This efficient use of material is a testament to the skill of our carvers and our commitment to sustainable craft at every stage of the process.
The hands of a master carver, using tools passed down through generations to shape a new design. Every chip and line is made with intention, turning a simple piece of wood into a tool for creating timeless art.
The hands of a master carver, using tools passed down through generations to shape a new design. Every chip and line is made with intention, turning a simple piece of wood into a tool for creating timeless art.
About The Art of the Block: From Wood to Fabric
The beauty of our work lies in the precision of the carving, where we rely on the immense skill of our artisans rather than machines to ensure perfect multi-colour registration. We take pride in our 'jugaad' approach, tracing and layering sections of a design onto teak wood so they fit together like a puzzle. If you are considering a custom design, know that it starts here: we can carve bespoke motifs specifically for your fabric, or adapt pieces from our vintage archive to create something truly personal.
Our studio in Sadashivnagar functions as both a workspace and a sanctuary for craft. When you come to us for printing or carving, you are engaging with a lineage that spans nearly five decades.
The Anatomy of a Block
We exclusively use seasoned teak wood for our blocks. It is durable, holds fine details, and stands up to the rigours of repeated printing over years. Our master carvers do not use laser cutters or modern templates. They use hand-forged tools and a lifetime of muscle memory to translate sketches into wood. For complex, multi-colour designs, we treat each colour layer like a digital file, carving a separate block for each hue. This ensures that when the fabric is printed, the registration is crisp and the patterns align seamlessly.
Custom Printing Process
Whether you bring your own base fabric or select from our curated organic options, our process is intentional.
- Preparation: We scour all fabrics to ensure the purity of the material, allowing for the best absorption of our GOTS-certified pigments and natural dyes.
- Registration: This is where the magic happens. Our printers are experts at the table, ensuring that the rhythm of the hand-press remains consistent across hundreds of impressions for a single saree or yardage.
- Finishing: Every piece undergoes post-print curing and washing in our studio to set the colours, ensuring your textile is a keepsake that lasts for generations.
Why Co-Creation Matters
We often collaborate with designers and individuals who want to see their specific vision come to life. From translating architectural patterns into motifs to developing custom palettes for interior upholstery, we love the back-and-forth of the sampling process. If you have a specific idea in mind, let us help you carve the block that turns that idea into a tangible textile.
Tharangini Studio
We have been working with these teak blocks in our Sadashivnagar studio since 1977. Every design you see in our archive is carved by our artisan family, some of whom have taught their own children this craft.
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