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Bringing block printing alive
With a whole range of fabrics meant for a variety of purposes, Soma Blockprints launched its store in Jubilee Hills on Tuesday. The store, which started off in Jaipur is owned by Canadian Andrée Pouliot.
Even as the ancient art of hand block printing is dying, Andrée Pouliot of Canadian origin launches her store Soma Blockprints in the city
With a whole range of fabrics meant for a variety of purposes, Soma Blockprints launched its store in Jubilee Hills on Tuesday. The store, which started off in Jaipur is owned by Canadian Andrée Pouliot.
Block printed clothing is almost always irresistible to purchase. Yet, unbeknown to us, is the laborious task undertaken by workers. After the designs have been carved on wood, the colour master gets busy with matching the colours and designs accurately, following which, the fabrics are printed – all of this takes some days’ of effort.
Charmed by the process of block printing, Andrée Pouliot founded Soma Blockprints in Jaipur, back in 1995. The brand now has six other branches across India, offering custom woven fabrics in light cotton material for Indian wear, as well as handbags and a home furnishing collection.
The founder, herself a professional block print innovator and designer with 30 years of experience working directly with crafts persons shares her desire to preserve the exquisite craft, which she fell in love with over the years.
“I have lived in India for more than half of my life, and it is unfortunate to see the China imported fabrics and mechanised systems of printing taking over. Block printing, embroidery and others are dying in India,” she says. The brand has several workers who help in each of the steps in the production line, whether it be folding the cloth or attaching beads.
“Now I have learned much about the craft and all that it involves. Ideas for designs come to me quite naturally after all these years,” she states. The company now has an ecologically planned, self-sustainable textile plant that uses recycled water in Jaipur. Explaining about Soma, Andrée says, “We usually need 16 different blocks.
We use organic ink and have an organic range of products too.” Andrée now gives workshops speaking about the historical textile art. Their vibrant collection, which changes every month, makes one long to purchase a piece.
