Ajrakh Printing: A Sustainable Textile Art

Ajrakh- an ancient craft of block printing.

Ajrakh printing is one of India’s oldest and most sustainable textile traditions, practiced for over 400 years in Kutch (Gujarat) and Barmer (Rajasthan). Known for its deep indigo blues and madder reds, Ajrakh is more than fabric—it is a slow, mindful process rooted in nature.

The craft uses natural dyes extracted from plants and minerals: indigo for blue, madder root for red, turmeric for yellow, and iron rust for black. Unlike chemical dyes, these are biodegradable and skin-friendly. A single piece of Ajrakh can involve 14–16 stages of washing, dyeing, and printing with hand-carved wooden blocks. This time-intensive process makes every piece unique.

According to the Crafts Council of India, over 2,000 artisans in Gujarat still practice Ajrakh, though numbers have declined due to competition from synthetic printing. However, sustainability-conscious buyers are helping revive demand.

A real example is the story of Dr. Ismail Mohammed Khatri, a 10th-generation Ajrakh artisan from Kutch. After the 2001 earthquake devastated his village, Khatri rebuilt his practice by training younger artisans and introducing Ajrakh to global markets. Today, his fabrics are showcased in museums like the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, proving that traditional crafts can find modern relevance.

Ajrakh is not just eco-friendly; it’s also culturally rich. Its symmetrical motifs reflect harmony between humans and nature—a philosophy the world urgently needs. Supporting Ajrakh means keeping alive a sustainable textile art that respects both artisans and the planet.