Crafts We Endorse

Akola Dabu Printing

Like the stars in an indigo sky

Earth has a secret, it not only nurtures flora and fauna but also sprouts magnificent and truly magical patterns when wrapped around in a fabric. The story of Dabu printing began when one day Mud was stuck onto the dhoti(a long loincloth) of a Rangrez(dyer), and he was lost in thought as he gathered the fabrics to be dyed. Along with the other clothing, the dhoti was gathered up and dropped directly into the indigo vat. The next day, He was surprised to find an anomaly among the dyed fabrics that had been left out to dry. In the regions where the earth rested, the dye did not blot and the original colour of the fabric was visible. In this manner, the earth revealed to the Rangrez a minor fraction of its mystery. They began to converse in patterns thereafter.

The word "dabaana," which means "to press," is where the name ‘Dabu’ comes from. Traditional, unchanged patterns have been passed down through the centuries. The motifs are chosen from the beauty of nature, and they are then carved onto wooden blocks The artisans, then immerse the blocks into a thick mixture made of lime, gum, and mud. Each wooden block has an unrivalled design thanks to the artists' careful and thorough crafting. These textiles bleed less than typical ones because they include high-quality dye that is produced from plants and fruits. The craft speaks of skills and years of experience, as the craftsmen swiftly pattern the clothes.

Dabu printing clusters were previously widely dispersed throughout Rajasthan province in India. Handful of people are left now to carry on the legacy. The Akola village is one of the few clusters near the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan that is keeping the tradition alive. Dabu from Akola are distinctive because of its intricate designs and high-end dye. The predominant colours in the local clothing are those of the sky: blue during the day, indigo at night, and crimson during sunsets.

Like the essence of earth, Dabu prints remain the primaeval printing method. The prints are popularly known as Akola Dabu prints. The soul of the craft rests safely in hands of the craftsmen and is carried forward by the Akola Chippa community.

Pichwai

The paintings that speak and narrate stories.

Pichwais are sacred fabric paintings that are hung behind the idols in the temple of Lord Shrinathji at Nathdwara. The literal translation of "pichwai" is "backdrop of anything." and is derived from the Sanskrit terms "Pich" meaning "back" and "Wai" which means hanging. However, for the artisans of Nathdwara, who have been practising this tradition, it is a type of art that frequently unites the worlds of creativity, passion, and devotion.

The Shreenathji statue in the Nathdwara temple depicts a seven-year-old Krishna lifting the Govardhan.The idol is likewise treated as a child and In the temple, everything is done with great care and tenderness. It resembles how a mother would care for her own child.

The Pichwai paintings are traditionally made using natural pigments and other organic materials.The paintings are more valuable and alluring due to the usage of purest gold. Just preparing the hue from pure gold for one painting could take three to four days. Even the brushes are unique.Horse, goat, or squirrel hair is employed in the manufacturing of the brushes.

The "Pichwai" paintings, which belong to the "Nathdwara school of art," are distinguished by their distinctive features like big eyes, broad noses, and massive bodies and are surrounded by a dark border and have rich shades of red, green, yellow, white, and black. These characteristics, which are based on the idol of Lord Shrinathji, are thought to accentuate the ornamentation or "Shringara." The representation of numerous occasions, seasons, and festivals using a variety of colours and components is another distinctive feature of these paintings. For instance, the summer season is symbolised with pink lotuses, while the festival of "Sharad Purnima'' is celebrated with a spectacular full moon. The major Krishna festivals, which are based on well-known Bhagwat Puran Stories and bhakti poets' verses, are included in the Pichwais. Some of them are glorified depictions, while others are historical records that show the actual incidents.

The pichwai paintings are the perfect way to adorn your walls and infuse the space with beauty, positivity and spirituality.

Miniature Painting

The gorgeously detailed, entrancing visual accounts of royal celebrations.

The truly stunning miniature paintings were made in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan during the 16th century. They were accustomed with astonishing details; the painters would paint the entire scene in all its splendour on a little canvas, for the king to preserve as a memento of the event. These were essentially a way for the Mughal emperors to record history for subsequent generations and were an art form brought to India.

In the sixteenth century, artisans lined the streets where regal Rajput kings would parade in opulent processions. The ministers rode horses, the kings and queens rode lavishly decorated elephants, and the royal entourage included camels, dancers, and musicians as they journeyed in grand style. This entire incident would be sketched by the painters, who would then elaborate them into detailed miniature paintings. In this way, the events' specifics would be jotted down on paper, silk cloth or ivory. Not only the festivities and processions, miniature paintings also depict beautiful palace or forest scenes. These miniature paintings were created by painters who were so adept at their profession that they could even match the precise face features.

The organically created pigments are applied with fine brushes containing bristles made of fine squirrel hair, giving the artist the maximum level of accuracy. Even the process of making the paint is time-consuming. Undoubtedly, Mother Nature supplies everything. The colours are taken from a variety of natural resources. For instance, green was extracted from leaves, red came from the dried Fruits of the Peepal tree, orange from flowers of Palash and black pigment came from stone. Boiling the metal in water and "Saras," or camel musk, produced gold or silver colours. A tiny amount of this extremely fine, priceless mixture would be obtained by hand grinding it for two to three days on a plate.To create a fine paste, the prepared pigment is combined with gum and water. The colour must have a consistent texture since there must be a high level of precision.

Kaavad

Could You recall your grandmother telling you stories by plunging into the depths of her imagination and retrieving a pearl of wisdom? Well our grandmothers stored the pearls in a box! Kavad is "a box of countless stories" or "a box of imagination," is an elaborate oral storytelling practice that dates back at least 400 years. This distinctive storytelling technique originates in Rajasthan's Marwar district. Rajasthan boasts a staggering number of historic buildings and locations, yet its glory extends beyond the heritage that defines its region. A number of the region's distinctive artworks were influenced by its long-standing cultural traditions.

The Kavad resembles a vibrant "cupboard" and is constructed of handcrafted wood. Its beauty resides in the expertly crafted closed, open, and concealed panels that were skillfully crafted by the suthars (carpenters) of the Mewar region. This shrine is not merely a place of prayer; it is a beautiful collage of pictures that the storyteller, or "Kaavadiya," has put together into tales. A new section of the tale is revealed as each door of the Kavad unlocks. Thus, the suthars and kaavadiya jointly, through their art and stories, elicit spirituality and awareness among the local people.

Phentiya

Dabu block printing, an ancient craft, is practised in the village of Akola. The designs' distinctive texture and elegance are enhanced by a range of components, including both water and mud (but most importantly, love).
River Bherach's fertile soil, which flows through the village, initially offered the best conditions for indigo growing. Dabu printing requires the water to have a set of essential salts and minerals in order to achieve a beautiful design and brilliant outcome.

Women in Rajasthan wear phentiya which is exclusively printed by the chippas of Akola and later on manually sewn as a ghagra(long skirt). The clothing and the prints are very valuable to the native area. Like sindoor, phentiya is regarded as a mark of identity for married women. Phentiya is also gifted to the future bride as a sign of a happy & healthy life.

The lengthy, difficult procedure involved in creating it is what distinguishes it as being special. Let's discover the procedure and appreciate how wonderful it is. The method begins with washing the fabric and dyeing it in a Harda solution, which serves as a mordant for the dye and gives the fabric a lovely golden colour. The following stage involves naphthol printing to produce the warm red colour. The hollow blocks used to design multiple patterns are filled with wool (namda), which effectively absorbs naphthol and creates an even imprint. Even though the naphthol solution's original colour is yellow the printed portions magically turn red when the fabric is dipped in GP salt solution.

The fabric is dyed, and then to harden it, it is submerged in gum paste. For phentiya, tar is employed as the resist material. It is applied to the designs that the motifs have previously created. Tar is heated in earthen pots prior to its usage, and Ash is sprinkled continuously while tar is applied on the patterns to avoid permanent adherence. Moving on to the most crucial stage, Indigo dying, which gives the phentiya its signature shade of blue. The method of immersing the fabric in indigo matths, is performed approximately 20 times. Finally, boiling water is used to rinse the tar, showcasing the lovely patterns underneath.
The entire process takes about 6 to 8 days. It's phenomenal to see the dedication of the villagers in keeping the tradition alive.

Bassi Wooden Toys

India is the birthplace of imagination and the art of brilliantly sculpting it into varied crafts. A 400-year-old tradition called "Bassi" Art, often referred to as "Bassi Kala," involves carving wooden toys and temples before painting them with hues from the natural world. Wooden toys were frequently handed down from one generation to the next, forging a beautiful bond between the two.

The artisans create wooden idols used in the Gangaur puja.The women of various communities celebrate Gangaur with tremendous enthusiasm and devotion, asking Goddess Parvati/Gauri to provide them marital bliss as well as a bountiful spring full of harvest.

A unique kind of wood from the "Adusa" tree is utilised in "Bassi Kala." However, the Bassi Kala is also dwindling as trees become more scarce and confined to a tiny fraction of the Aravallis.

The rising usage of plastic is one of the many reasons why this magnificent art is in danger of dying out. We are determined to revive this art form, and we will do everything we can to ensure that it prosper once again.

Bagru Block Printing

Indians were among the world's forerunners in the field of innovation. The art of dyeing and printing is rooted in many traditions across the nation. Each cluster adheres to its unique processes and style , the use of distinctive and meaningful motifs are enhanced by colours obtained from mother nature.
The centuries-old tradition of hand block printing technique is practised in Bagru village of Rajasthan. The hardworking process results in phenomenal designs in opulent and exotic hues. In this specific form of printing, patterns and designs are manually printed on fabrics using wooden or metal blocks.

Jahota Print

The fusion of traditional and contemporary art.

We bring to you hidden treasures from India's rich textile legacy so you can experience the culture firsthand. We are thrilled to expand our collection with intricate Indian handicraft, and we are excited to introduce you to our brand-new fabric pattern, the Jahota designs. Jahota print is a beautifully designed combination of syahi-begar and dabu print that attractively portrays the culture and heritage of Rajasthan.

A little town called Jahota is located 30 kilometres to the north of the Jaipur district. Thanks to Maharaja Jai Singh and his wife's encouragement for exquisite and unique Indian fabrics, the Jahota print fabric blossomed.

The Jahota prints were created when nature and human ingenuity combined to create a never-before-seen printed fabric.

This work of art is incredibly fragile, suitable for all seasons, and readily dries in the sun and wind, with the finishing touch provided by highly talented artisans. The Jahota printing method is meticulously chosen to give the fabric a warm glow.

At Sumaavi, you may purchase a diverse selection of visually appealingly printed Jahota fabric. Create your own tales to go along with these fabrics at home.