Question 1

How should I wash and care for natural dye block printed tops to prevent fading?

Accepted Answer

Cold wash separately for the first 2–3 washes — some natural dye release into the wash water is normal. This is excess dye clearing, not fading. After that, a gentle cold machine cycle with mild detergent works fine. Always dry in shade, inside out. With this care, natural dyes stabilise and deepen slightly over time rather than fading flat. A well-cared-for block printed top can look better after a year than it did on day one.

Question 2

Which top silhouette works best for a pear-shaped body?

Accepted Answer

For a pear shape, choose a full sleeve top with a relaxed hem that falls below the widest point of the hip. This creates visual balance between the shoulder and hip. Our long block print tops are particularly good here because the length extends below the hip line entirely. In contrast, avoid short fitted tops that end at the natural waist — they draw attention to the hip-to-waist differential rather than balancing it.

Question 3

Can block printed cotton tops be worn as formal office wear?

Accepted Answer

Yes — with the right pairing. Tuck a full sleeve block print top in a composed colour — beige, black, brownish red, or indigo — into straight trousers for a professional ethnic-casual look. For a more structured silhouette, layer a block printed waist coat over the top. Because the block print reads as deliberate and creative rather than casual, it carries a professional register without needing formalwear cuts or embellishment.

Question 4

What bottoms pair best with block printed cotton tops?

Accepted Answer

For casual and everyday wear, plain straight-leg denim or palazzo pants in a solid complementary colour work best. For a more ethnic look, pair with a block printed skirt in a complementary natural dye colour. For festive occasions, a block printed lehenga skirt under a halter neck or frill top creates a complete festive outfit. Since the natural dye palette is consistent across SA Fab's collection — terracotta, indigo, ochre, black — tops and bottoms from different categories colour-coordinate naturally.

Question 5

What is the difference between Ajrakh and Dabu printing — and which is used on these tops?

Accepted Answer

Ajrakh is a resist-print tradition from Kutch and Barmer — deep geometric patterns in indigo and madder red, built through up to 16 alternating printing and dyeing steps. Dabu, on the other hand, is a mud-resist technique from Bagru — clay, lime, and wheat bran paste is block-printed onto fabric to resist the dye, creating soft-edged organic patterns. The tops in this collection use the broader Bagru block printing tradition, primarily kalamkari-inspired motifs and traditional Bagru florals. For Ajrakh and Dabu specifically, visit the Ajrakh fabric and Dabu fabric categories at handblockprintsbagru.com.

Categories

Filter by attribute

Tops

White Floral Print Full Sleeve Pure Cotton Top

White Floral Print Pure Cotton Halter Neck Top

White Floral Print Pure Cotton Spaghetti Top

Yellow Floral Print Full Sleeve Pure Cotton Top

Block Print Assistant