Plumb the depths of the sea with Samudree; a collection of complex 12-block prints that layer colour upon colour to create a vibrant, underwater world. Look closely and you'll discover whimsical characters- we've taken great joy in adding quirky, tiny details to these incredible prints.
Together with a team of talented, young designers, block makers & printers in Jaipur & Sanganeer - both centuries-old block printing centers - we've taken hand block printing to a new level of complexity & depth.
Samudree means nautical in Hindi, and while the technique & process are rooted in a centuries-old textile culture, we've looked for inspiration not from the traditional land-based floral block prints of the region, but from the ocean and the rich world that lays within it.
Our clothing is stitched by brothers Parvez & Lal in Delhi.
Gadh, rekh & datta are the foundations of block print and define the different types of wooden blocks used to create a design on cloth:
A print design can use one, two, or all three types of blocks, each in one or more colours, to achieve very different appearances, depth & complexity in the end design.
Blocks are carved by hand by specialist wood carvers using small hammers & chisels, traditionally on teak wood, which is both sustainable & native to India. After carving, blocks are soaked in mustard oil for several days to ensure their longevity, and with careful maintenance and cleaning can last many decades.
Blocks come in all shapes and sizes, though blocks larger than around 12" are not used as the handling becomes too difficult. Holes drilled into the blocks allow air to escape as the block is pushed onto the cloth, and allow the wood to breathe.
The various designs are printed one over the other: layers of colour, line & shape are perfectly positioned by the skilled & experienced eye of the printer. Screen and digital printing will aline perfectly without gaps; in contrast, block printing by hand, especially as designs become more complex and use more blocks, will show irregularities in the alignment.
This irregularity introduces a rich texture and liveliness to the printed cloth that speaks of the hands used to craft it. Our Samudree Collection prints use up to 12 blocks layered over one another to create a pattern of immense depth and detail!