Block printing is the process of printing on fabric (or paper) using hand carved sycamore or pear wood blocks.
Fabric is stretched and tacked on to the printing tables. The block is pressed a couple of times in to the tray holding the pigment paste for an even application of color.
The printer then presses the stained block on the fabric firmly and strikes it with their hand or a wooden mallet to transfer the color. The second impression is made the same way.
The printer takes care to line up each impression with the previous one as precisely as possible. This process is continued till the whole length of fabric is printed.
Since this process is fully executed by hand, the slight misalignments from one block to the other add to the beauty of the prints and create a unique impression each time.
We print only on natural fibers like silk and handwoven cotton. All clothing and accessories are designed for gender neutrality and inclusivity. Harkoi products are already handmade at every step, using all-natural materials, and the packaging is all recycled and/or recyclable.
]]>Kala Cotton is a rain fed crop that uses no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
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Kala Cotton is a rain fed crop that uses no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It is water efficient and almost carbon neutral. It is grown in areas in Kutch (Rapar and Bhachau blocks) and Surendranagar (Patdi, Dasada and Mandal blocks) in Gujarat.
Cotton collected from the fields goes through ginning to separate the fiber from seeds and other residue. The fiber is then carded to create cotton bales ready for spinning. The bales are hand spun and converted into yarn.
Yarn is washed and prepared before it can be woven. Kala cotton is woven into fabric using a fly shuttle on pitlooms by artisans from the Vankar community in Gujarat who are traditional weavers.
Kala cotton is naturally breathable, absorbent and gets softer with every use. Since there are no harmful chemicals used anywhere in the process, it is a safe and sustainable material for clothing and home goods.
Image credit: Khamir
]]>Contrary to popular belief, silk is a durable, absorbent, and breathable fabric. It works very well for summer clothing due to its moisture wicking capabilities as well as for winters for its low conductive properties. It also absorbs dyes very well, both natural and chemical and creates rich saturated color tones. A big benefit of silk is that it is a hypoallergenic material, great for sensitive skin.
Due to the versatility of this material, it was our first choice to create luxe handmade accessories and limited-edition silk shirts for you. The handmade patterns give each piece a unique signature that cannot be replicated by a machine or mass manufacturing. The material is simple to maintain and needs only occasional dry cleaning. It makes for an easy choice to dress up or down or layer with other pieces from your closet.
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