Block Print Fabric — Hand Printed in Bagru, Jaipur
Every metre of block print fabric in this collection is printed by hand in Bagru, Rajasthan. This is where the Chhipa community has practised natural dye block printing for over 450 years. A Chhipa artisan presses a hand-carved wooden block into natural dye paste and stamps it across pure cotton — Ajrakh geometrics, Dabu mud-resist florals, indigo vat prints — one impression at a time. The result is a printed fabric that carries the specific visual character and dye depth of human hands pressing natural pigment into cotton. No machine achieves this exactly.
We sell our block printed cotton fabric in 10-metre rolls — the standard working quantity for tailors, designers, boutiques, and home sewers. No minimum order quantity. Whether you want one roll or fifty, the process is the same. All fabric ships free across India. Worldwide delivery is available.
Natural dyes throughout: madder root for deep reds and terracotta, indigo plant for blues and navies, harda seed for yellows and sage greens, and iron solution for blacks and greys. These dyes are plant and mineral-based — no synthetic azo compounds, no chemical coating on the fabric surface. As a result, the cotton breathes freely and sits comfortably against the skin whether the finished garment is worn for six hours or sixteen.
Four Block Print Traditions — One Source
Our fabric collection covers four distinct printing traditions from Bagru and the broader Rajasthan block print heritage. Each produces a different visual character, colour palette, and production process:
Ajrakh Block Print Fabric
Ajrakh is one of the most complex block print traditions in India. It originates from Kutch, Gujarat and Barmer, Rajasthan — practised by Khatri community artisans across a multi-step resist-print and dye process that can involve up to 16 alternating printing and dyeing stages. The result is a fabric with deep, layered colour — typically madder red and indigo blue on a natural cream or black ground — and bold geometric patterns that print identically on both sides of the fabric. This double-sided quality is unique to Ajrakh among block print traditions. Our Ajrakh fabric is available in a wide range of colour combinations — florals, paisleys, geometric grounds, and traditional medallion motifs. Visit our dedicated Ajrakh print fabric collection. For a full explanation of how Ajrakh printing works, read our Ajrakh vs Dabu article.
Dabu Block Print Fabric
Dabu is a mud-resist printing tradition specific to Bagru and the Chhipa community of Rajasthan. A paste of clay, lime, gum, and wheat bran is block-printed onto the cotton fabric. This paste resists the dye wherever it is applied. The fabric is then dip-dyed, and the paste is washed away — leaving the protected areas in the original cotton colour or a lighter tone. The result is a fabric with soft-edged, organic patterns in earthy tones: ochre, sage green, indigo, terracotta, and natural cream. The slight blurriness at the edges of each motif is the characteristic mark of the mud-resist technique — it cannot be achieved with screen or digital printing. Our Dabu fabric is among the most popular in the collection. Explore the full range in our Dabu print fabric collection.
Indigo Block Print Fabric
Our indigo prints use natural indigo vat dyeing — one of the oldest dyeing processes in the world. Fabric is dipped into an indigo reduction vat and oxidises to blue on contact with air. Block printing is applied either as a resist before dyeing (creating white or cream patterns on an indigo ground) or as an overprint on the dyed fabric (adding detail in a second colour). The result is the characteristic deep, living indigo blue that synthetic dyes cannot replicate — a colour that deepens with washing and sun exposure rather than fading flat. Explore our indigo print fabric collection.
Rapid Print Fabric
Rapid prints use a faster block printing process — fewer dye steps, quicker turnaround — making them the most accessible option in the collection for budget-conscious buyers and high-volume requirements. The print quality and pattern range are still hand-pressed by Bagru artisans using the same wooden blocks, but the production timeline is shorter than multi-step Ajrakh or Dabu processes. As a result, rapid prints are the right choice when you need larger quantities on a tighter timeline. Explore our rapid print fabric collection.
Who Buys Our Block Print Fabric
Home Sewers & DIY Makers
10 metres is a practical working quantity for most home sewing projects. It is enough for a full saree with blouse, a lehenga skirt with choli, two to three suit sets, or multiple smaller pieces like dupattas, palazzo pants, and tops. Since the fabric comes in a single roll with a continuous print, there are no colour breaks mid-length. You get a consistent, uninterrupted print run to work with.
Boutiques & Independent Designers
Our fabric is particularly well suited for independent ethnic wear designers and boutiques who want to offer genuinely handmade pieces without running their own printing operation. The 10-metre roll format allows you to stitch a small capsule collection from a single fabric — typically 3–5 garments per roll depending on style and size — with consistent print across all pieces.
Wholesale & Bulk Buyers
We supply block print fabric in bulk to boutiques, garment manufacturers, interior designers, and export buyers. If you need more than 5 rolls of a single design, or if you want custom colour combinations within an existing block print vocabulary, please WhatsApp us directly to discuss pricing, lead times, and available yardage. Wholesale rates apply from 5+ rolls of the same fabric. We can also arrange sample swatches before a bulk order.
Interior & Home Decor Buyers
Block print fabric is not only for clothing. Our Ajrakh and Dabu prints translate exceptionally well into cushion covers, curtains, table runners, bed runners, and upholstery projects. The bold geometric patterns of Ajrakh and the soft organic florals of Dabu both work at interior scale. For finished home furnishing products already stitched and ready to use, visit our home furnishing collection.
How to Choose the Right Block Print Fabric
By Visual Character
Choose Ajrakh for bold, geometric, highly structured patterns with deep madder and indigo colour combinations. Choose Dabu for soft-edged organic florals, earthy tones, and a relaxed, artisanal aesthetic. Choose Indigo for the characteristic living blue of vat dyeing — either as an all-over ground colour or as the primary print colour. Choose Rapid prints for a wider range of motif styles at a more accessible price point.
By End Use
For sarees and drape garments, Ajrakh and Dabu both work well — the structured Ajrakh print creates a bold visual drape, while the softer Dabu motifs suit casual and festive drape styles. For fitted garments — kurtas, shirts, suits — any of the four traditions work, but rapid prints and Dabu are the most forgiving for beginners since the repeat alignment is easier to manage in cutting and stitching. For home furnishing, Ajrakh is the most visually impactful at interior scale.
By Budget
Rapid prints are the most affordable in the collection. Dabu prints sit in the mid-range — the mud-resist process adds time and material cost over a standard block print. Ajrakh is the most premium — the multi-step process, up to 16 printing and dyeing stages, makes it the most labour-intensive fabric in the collection. Indigo prints vary depending on the complexity of the block print used alongside the vat dyeing.
Why Buy Block Print Fabric Directly from Bagru
Most block print fabric sold online — even by reputable retailers — passes through at least two or three intermediary hands between the printing artisan and the buyer. Each hand adds margin. The final retail price reflects the cost of the craft plus the cost of the supply chain, not the craft alone.
We are based in Ganga Vihar, Bagru — the same village where this fabric is printed. We work directly with Chhipa community artisans without wholesalers or trading intermediaries. As a result, the price you pay reflects the craft and a fair direct wage to the artisan — not a chain of intermediary margins. Furthermore, because we are based in Bagru, we can vouch for every craft claim we make: hand block printed, natural dyes, Bagru origin. These are not marketing terms. They describe exactly how the work gets done.
Want to understand the craft in more depth? Read our guide to the art of hand block printing. It covers the full process from block carving through mordanting, resist printing, dye bath, and finishing.
How to Care for Block Printed Natural Dye Fabric
- Pre-wash before cutting. All natural dye fabric benefits from a cold pre-wash before you cut and stitch. This removes excess dye, pre-shrinks the cotton, and ensures the finished garment does not shrink unexpectedly after the first wear.
- Wash separately in cold water. Natural dyes release some colour in the first 2–3 washes. Always wash separately first to prevent colour transfer onto other fabric.
- Mild detergent only. Harsh detergents strip natural dyes faster. A gentle handwash liquid is sufficient. Never use bleach — it will strip natural dyes completely.
- Dry in shade. Direct sunlight degrades natural dye molecules over time. Shade-dry cut fabric and finished garments to preserve colour depth.
- Iron on medium heat. Pure cotton irons easily. For Ajrakh fabric with deep resist-print layers, iron on the reverse side to protect the print surface.
Wholesale & Bulk Orders — Talk to Us Directly
If you need fabric in bulk — for a boutique collection, a garment export order, a design school project, or an interior fit-out — we can help. We supply block print fabric in quantities from 5 rolls upward in a single design. Custom colour combinations within our existing block print vocabulary are also possible for larger orders.
Wholesale pricing, lead times, and sample availability vary by design and quantity. The fastest way to get specific information is to WhatsApp us at +91 80055 43240. We are available Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm IST. Share the design reference, the quantity you need, and your delivery location — and we will respond with availability and pricing within the working day.
We work with independent designers, boutique labels, export houses, interior firms, and craft organisations across India and internationally. Worldwide shipping is available on bulk orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum quantity to buy block print fabric?
There is no minimum order quantity. All our block print fabrics are sold in 10-metre rolls — one roll is the smallest unit available. You can order a single roll of any design without needing to commit to a larger quantity. For wholesale and bulk orders of 5 rolls or more in the same design, WhatsApp us for wholesale pricing and lead time details.
What is the difference between Ajrakh and Dabu block print fabric?
Ajrakh is a multi-step resist-print and dye process originating from Kutch and Barmer — it produces bold geometric patterns in deep madder red and indigo blue through up to 16 alternating printing and dyeing stages. The print is identical on both sides of the fabric. Dabu is a mud-resist process specific to Bagru — a paste of clay, lime, and wheat bran is block-printed onto the cotton before dye application, then washed away after dyeing. It produces soft-edged, organic florals in earthy ochres, sage greens, terracottas, and indigos. The key visual difference is that Ajrakh is geometric and sharply defined, while Dabu is organic and softly blurred at the edges. For a detailed comparison, read our Ajrakh vs Dabu article.
How many metres of fabric do I need for a saree, a kurta, or a suit set?
A standard saree requires 5.5 to 6.5 metres depending on draping style, plus 0.8 to 1 metre for the blouse piece — so one 10-metre roll is enough for one saree with blouse and some left over. A full kurta (long) requires approximately 2.5 metres for most sizes. A suit set with kameez, salwar or pant, and dupatta requires approximately 5 to 6 metres. So one 10-metre roll typically yields one suit set and one additional kurta, or two suit sets in smaller sizes. For custom yardage guidance based on your specific pattern, WhatsApp us with your measurements and garment type.
Is this fabric pre-shrunk?
Our block print fabric is not pre-shrunk. Pure cotton shrinks slightly in the first wash — typically 3 to 5% in length and 1 to 2% in width. As a result, we recommend a cold pre-wash of the fabric before cutting and stitching. This sets the fabric to its final dimensions and removes excess dye in the same step. Factor this into your yardage calculation when buying fabric for a specific garment with precise measurements.
Can I order fabric swatches before buying a full roll?
Yes — for wholesale and bulk orders of 5+ rolls, we can arrange sample swatches before you commit to the full quantity. For single-roll retail orders, swatches are not available separately as the 10-metre roll is already the minimum unit. However, the product photographs show the print at close range and the alt text on each image describes the colour and motif accurately. If you have specific questions about a design before purchasing, WhatsApp us and we will send additional photographs or video of the fabric in hand.
Explore the Four Fabric Collections
- Ajrakh Block Print Fabric — bold geometric patterns in deep madder and indigo. Up to 16-step resist-print process. Double-sided print.
- Dabu Print Fabric — mud-resist florals in earthy ochres, terracotta, sage green, and indigo. Soft-edged, organic motifs unique to Bagru.
- Indigo Print Fabric — natural indigo vat dyeing. Deep living blue that deepens with washing rather than fading flat.
- Rapid Print Fabric — wider motif range, faster production, most accessible price point in the collection.
- Home Furnishing — finished block print products: cushion covers, curtains, bedsheets, table runners, and more.
Free Shipping · No Minimum Order · Direct from Bagru
Every 10-metre roll ships free across India. Worldwide delivery is available. We accept UPI, Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, and net banking.
For wholesale enquiries, bulk pricing, custom colour requests, or questions about a specific design — WhatsApp us between Monday and Saturday, 10am to 7pm IST. We supply designers, boutiques, and export buyers across India and internationally.