KOCHI: To mark the onset of the Onam season, Fabindia presents “Stories in Print” , a special promotion of garments for men, women and children in classic and contemporary prints for all its discerning customers. The 10-day event starts on July 31 and end on August 9 and will be on at all Fabindia stores in Kerala. On display will be new summer prints in cottons and silks in techniques that draw from the ancient textile printing heritage of our country with which Fabindia historically has had a close association.
Some of the special prints on offer during the show are: Hand Block print - It is today one of the few main techniques used in fabric decoration in the traditional Indian palette. Skilled artisans carve the required design into hard wood to make blocks which are the essential tools for creating the design on fabric.
The blocks are dipped sequentially into dye baths and stamped on to the fabric with skilled precision – a separate block used for each colour.
Cheent - Inspired by traditional folk-lore, this range includes bright hued and well-defined floral and pop prints which showcase the intense colour palette of Rajasthan & Gujarat.
Ajrakh – One of the most specialised and finest forms of block printing, Ajrakh is a popular traditional art form of Kutch, in which the motifs are characterised by a unique depth of colour.
Kalamkari - The word “Kalamkari” is Persian in origin meaning “drawing with a pen.” The printing style as we know today emerged from the craft schools that sprang up under the patronage of the Mughal emperors about three centuries ago. Today, the craft has been adopted by the printing community and most of what is in production now is hand block printed.
Bagh - This beautiful printing style originates from a small village by the same name in Madhya Pradesh.
The craft epitomises hand block printing with great precision and imagination. Some bagh compositions are known to contain as many as 1300 separate block impressions.
While the printing techniques remain ancient and seeped in tradition, the design interpretation in the ranges on show is very contemporary and would appeal to the modern, urban consumer. Prices start at Rs 350 and go upto 2500. Visit the Fabindia stores at Ravipuram, Bay Pride Mall and Fort Kochi.
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