Dabu Printing

Dabu printing, like Bagru prints, is a one-of-a-kind art form. A pattern is sketched onto the background cloth in this process. This sketched pattern is wrapped in clay and strewn with sawdust. When the clay dries, the sawdust adheres to the canvas. After that, the entire fabric is coloured in a variety of colours. The pigment does not adhere to the clay and sawdust mixture, so it stays colourless. The fabric is washed after dyeing and drying to extract the clay and mixture. This fabric is dyed again in a lighter shade to cover the patterned area for added colour.

Dabu printing is a labour intensive task and requires several steps in printing and dyeing procedure. Dabu printing is a mud resisting type of hand block printing. Generally Dabu print is used to adorn traditional ethnic wear, but it can also be used to decorate home décor products. Final Dabu print on fabric looks very similar to Batik; but the technique used is completely different. Dabu print is a combination of highly skilled labor and beautiful motifs. Artisans tend to produce traditional and classic prints that are considered authentic. Many young fashion designers learn the Dabu print technique from the regional artisans and give it a western twist.

Dabu printing is a slow process but it yields artistic results. Rajasthan being the home to Dabu printing technique,the motifs used have a traditional approach to its existence. Dabu print fabric involves natural dyes and pastes which make it environmentally suitable. A lot of manual labor and extensive struggle is required to create Dabu print fabric. Dabu sarees and Dabu print kurtis are widely accepted by current generation. Process of creating Dabu print fabric is so prolonged that the outcome is worth it. A timeless craft, Dabu print involves raw materials; mud and water.