Ever heard of working in mud to get beautiful fabrics? Then you have not known about Dabu printing. Out of place traditional art practiced in few parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Origin
Dusty hearty tones in a mixture of amazing prints – Dabu. The word Dabu is derived from dabaana which means press, this is a method of utilizing mud as an oppose, to make designs on indigo colored texture.
With its principal communities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, this speciality prospers in territories that normally have clingy dirt like soil, effectively accessible in close by regions.
Customarily these prints enhanced the lehengas and odhni’s of the ladies around there. The procedure is accepted to have gone back to the eighth century AD, in light of the most established known Dabu material, found in Central Asia.
Like the essence of earth, the form in which these fabrics are worn are changing with time.
Making process
Dabu indicates the pressing process of mud. Firstly, the craftsman washes the fabric, liberates it from the stretch and residue. This process of Dabu printing includes the fabric absorbing water for a day and an additional two days in a mixture of Castrol oil and water.
Then they washes the fabric for two days with fresh water to extract the Castrol oil.
Then few stages includes for the dyeing and printing process. The procedure of mud opposing, the mud is produced using fixing like mud, gum, lime and waste wheat refuse are joined and sawdust is sprinkled to dry glue. This covering dust shields these pieces of the textures from dying, later on making one of a kind and beautiful effect.
Craftsman lay the fabric in the sun and after that they plunges it into the tank of dye and then again dry the fabric. Now, they wash it exhaustively to evacuate the glue and any abundance of color. Finally the handicraft is ready.
Motifs
The motifs inspired by the nature are used. Some commonly used motifs are sunflowers, creatures, peacocks, leaves, and many more.
While geometric patterns such as vertical lines and flat lines, dotted lines and numerical shapes.
Colors and dyes
Traditional Dabu prints are made up of natural dyes and pastes.
Dyes like Kashish which is grey-brown, indigo which is blue and colors like yellow and red are derived from fruits like pomegranate; are used as natural dyes. A lot more color options are available to artisans today.
Since they are not restricted to natural dyes and can use synthetic dyes as well. a rich and colorful look, fabrics can be dyed more than once. This created a double and triple dabu look.
Maintenance
Dabu print fabric should be first washed by hand to check color fastness, after that the fabric can be machine washed with cool water.
To avoid ruining bright colors, Dabu print fabric is best air dried. Natural dyes generally don’t fade easily; but multiple machine washes, might speed up the process.
Present day scenario
Like many other traditional Indian hand printing style, Dabu also lost its significance in this digital world.
Like many other traditional Indian hand printings style, Dabu also lost its significance in this digital world. It became a time-consuming process with less profits.
Mostly the artisans opted to an easy practice of the cluster. But some artisans work tirelessly to keep this art alive and for this they are understanding the demands and interest of the consumers and buyers to change the designs accordingly.
The government also supported them by providing funds and facilities. Since last few years some new experiments and variations in the designs and dyeing are being done by artisans for reviving the art.
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