Apparel April 2019 Apparel April 2019 issue | Page 52

FEATURE
of colours for the longest time. The technique
can be used to fulfil all ethnic and Indo-Western
apparel needs of today’s modern women. From
saris and skirts to salwar kameezes and shirts,
to tunics and kurtas to even scarves, stoles and
shawls, Dabu prints look pleasant on them all.
Designer Arpita Mehta says, “The practice of
Dabu printing almost died out, but has been
revived by the new age designers. Today, the print
has become famous all over the globe in various
forms due to its vibrant and unique designs.
Designers have incorporated this technique in
their collections to make Indo-Western outfits,
making it appealing for the new generation.
Many of the decor brands too have incorporated
the same to revive the beautiful technique.”
At Lyla, apart from saris, they craft kurtis and
some western styles in tops, dresses and even
beachwear. Dabu print scarves and dupattas are
a big hit and their latest collection which is an ode
to this craft brings together Dabu and indigo to
create a denim-like look for kurtas and dresses
for women and kids, giving it a really modern
makeover. Jawahar Singh, Co-founder and
Owner, Avishya.com, says, “Dabu printing lives
46
I APPAREL I
April 2019
THE PRACTICE OF DABU
PRINTING ALMOST DIED
OUT, BUT HAS BEEN
REVIVED BY THE NEW
AGE DESIGNERS.
on through hundreds of apparel and sari makers
who have innovated with variations of traditional
designs and experimented with bolder colour
tones. Many NGOs and quasi-government bodies
have encouraged and supported weavers using
Dabu printing in their handloom products.”
CHALLENGES GALORE
This printing is purely a labour-intensive process
that involves several steps and stages of
printing and dyeing done by expert artisans and
craftsmen. Unfortunately, there are only a few
artists who can do justice to this painstaking and
meticulous job of hand-block printing. Further,
adding to this, the natural dyes and vegetable
pastes involved in the process are costly and
tough to find. Vina Ahuja, Owner & Designer,
Akashi says, “The biggest challenge of Dabu
print is that after a certain point, it starts to fade