Chanderi Ajrakh

This craft form dates back to early medieval times where the makers of it migrated from the banks of Sindh. 
 
Ajrakh is a block- printed textile that is resist- dyed using natural dyes. The beauty of this lies with the complex geometric and floral patterns. The technique of making this is one of the oldest, most complex and sophisticated methods of block-printing. 
Nature plays an important role in the making of Ajrakh. The sun, river, animals, trees and mud are all part of its making.
 
The synergy between handloom textiles and vegetable dyes is what it takes to create this magic in 21 days, where it undergoes 14-16 different stages of dyeing and printing. The first block is coated in lime conjugated with Acacia gum and cautiously pressed onto the cloth at regular intervals. It acts as a resistor. Ajrakh uses mud-resist in various stages. Another unique feature is that the dyeing and printing is repeated twice on the fabric to ensure brilliance of color.
 
Every color used in the making of an Ajrakh tells a story. The resulting cloth is soft against the skin, pleasing to touch & appealing to the eye.