Deep Diving into Dabu

Udaipur – based designer Alka Sharma explores traditional dabu block printing nontraditionally by giving it a global appeal. Brinda Gill talks to the designer about her love for textiles and dyes...

- Brinda Gill

“I have had an interest in textiles ever since I was a child. I would often watch my grandmother weave dhurries on a simple loom at home using yarns from the warp and waste fabrics in the weft. My father was in the Rajasthan Police service and would be transferred to different places in the state all the time. This constant travel brought me in contact with a variety of textiles. These experiences furthered my interest in textiles”, says Alka Sharma, founder of Aavaran – Echoes of Rural India; a design studio in Udaipur, Rajasthan, specialising in dabu printing with natural dyes.

Alka studied at the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, Jaipur, and as part of her course work also interacted on a one-on-one basis with artisans at Akola — a village about 70 kms from Udaipur. Akola is known for its dabu printing heritage. Alka enjoyed learning about this technique while interacting with artisans. After marriage she moved to Udaipur in 2003 and her husband’s family encouraged her to continue working on her interest in textiles. With the help of the Ministry of Textiles she started a five-year action plan and collaborated with artisans in Akola to design garments with dabu prints using natural indigo dyes.

DABU PRINTING