We’re living in a world that’s flooded with monotonous machine printed imitations. You can see the same designs and colour patterns on repeat. However, amidst this soulless collection of prints, there lies a world of artistry that breathes.
When you choose block print fabrics, you aren’t just buying cloth, but actually you’re celebrating human touch – those little imperfections and the rhythmic pulse in hand block print fabrics that machines can never replicate.
Why Authenticity in Hand Block Prints Matters
Choosing authentic hand block print fabrics is a way of safeguarding a legacy. It is not a mere matter of decorating the house, it is about the glorious history.
By choosing genuine block prints, you create livelihood for 1000s of artisan families living in the North Indian areas of Jaipur and Sanganer. They’ve been using this wood block printing method for centuries, handing down the crafting skill from father to son, mother to daughter. Moreover, authentic printing doesn’t harm the environment.
By choosing traditional methods over chemical-dumped factory rollers, you choose a nature-friendly path. Are you searching for block printed bedsheets or maybe you want to freshen up your lounge with block print cushions? Use these seven golden rules to make sure that you are getting the real deal.
7 ways to check the authenticity of block print fabrics
Ready to become a textile detective? Whether you wanna buy block printed bedsheets or want to refresh your lounge with elegant block print cushions, use these seven golden rules to ensure you’re getting the genuine deal.
1. Imperfection
If there is one thumb rule to live by, it is this: Perfection is a red flag. As every motif is stamped by hand, there will always be tiny slips. Find slight overlaps in colour or a “butta” (motif) that is a small portion of an inch out of alignment. These are not defects; they are the heart of the fabric.
2. Flip test
This is the most foolproof method. As the craftsmen exert manual pressure on the woodblock, the dye penetrates deeply into the fibres. And the fabric flip test is the best way to identify genuine block print fabrics. If the print is visible (though slightly lighter) on the back, it is authentic. If the back is a stark, flat white, it is a machine print.
3.Feel the Fabric
Authentic block print fabrics are nearly always made of high quality natural fibres like cotton, silk, or linen. They feel breathable, soft, and organic. Synthetically machine-printed fabrics may have a slightly waxy or “plastic” feel due to the ink being on the surface of the fabric rather than bonding with it.
4. Check Color vibrancy
Machine prints frequently appear excessively bright. Real block prints, in particular those using vegetable dyes, have a rich, matte vibrancy. They appear deep and grounded, just right for bringing a hint of simple elegance to your home with block print table linens.
5. Scent of tradition
Just a quick sniff of the fabric will tell you! Real ones, especially those from Bagru, often have a subtle, earthy indigo, pomegranate skin, or natural mordants scent. Machine-made fabrics will either be odourless or have a sharp, chemical “factory” smell.
6. Observe the motifs
In a mechanised print, the gaps between the patterns are exactly the same from a mathematical standpoint. The repetition of the hand block printing is influenced by the artisan’s eye. The distance between motifs will have minute variations that make the fabric alive.
7. Do the price check
Artistry cannot be rushed. A set of block printed bedsheets, if priced at a level that is suspiciously low, is probably a machine-made fake. Genuine handwork is a result of the long days of labour and the skill of the carver and the printer.
For instance, screen print bedsheet usually starts from INR 150 while a block print bedsheet is almost 10 times more expensive, costing around INR 1500. So, when you’re out shopping for an authentic block print fabric, then you must ensure you don’t end up getting played. Shop smarter and shop only the real craft.
Let’s clear your confusion around hand block prints
1. Can hand block print fabrics be used on a daily basis?
Absolutely, Kalaaai’s block print fabrics are made from 100% organic cotton and dyed using only natural dyes and traditional methods, making them skin friendly and durable.
2. Won’t block prints fade over time?
No, if you talk of authentic block prints, they don’t fade early as cotton chemically binds with dyes with strong bonds.
3. Can hand block print fabrics be machine-washed?
Yes, using mild detergents and a cycle of gentle machine wash, hand block prints are easy to maintain.
4. Do natural block prints essentially bleed?
Not at all, while natural block prints may release a little of excess colour in the first wash, but they don’t fade and remain stable with proper care.
