My Love for Block Printing

We’ve just gotten in our latest block print caftans and kimonos and I couldn’t be more pleased! (and they seem to be flying off the shelves!) This was a really fun creative process, picking out the blocks to use, combining the colors and watching the fabric come to life as it was being made by hand. The skills involved in block printing is not for the faint hearted. The motifs need to be aligned just right, the amount of pressure placed on the blocks needs to be just right, the amount of dye on the blocks need to be just right…it’s quite something!

While I was at the factory pulling this all together I was talking to the workers and they explained how the block printing professionals were either second or third generation crafters – but that many of their children didn’t want to continue the traditions. IT jobs were much easier and more interesting. This is so sad- the profession is truly being strained by lack of workers willing to do the job.

It’s a dying craft- also with society’s need for fast fashion. These garments are made to stand the test of time which requires time and energy to make them. I’m pleased but also left wondering where this is all heading with crazy consumerism and need for cheap goods…ok I jump off my high horse.

Nice to hear your thoughts on these! You can find them at my shop, online, at My O My’s Summer Garage (open mid June), in Sipoo at Gumbostrand Konst & Form and in Stockholm at Beghagligt.