Archana Tiwari, a research scholar from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai, has completed her research on ‘Traditional block needs contemporary fabrics.’ She had explored many ways on how the block printing can be done with different yarn compositions instead of only on silk and cotton materials.
“The wood-block printing in Kalamkari art with natural colours has come a long way, from printing of the traditional Indian textile designs to modern designs, drafted by the many budding block makers as well as textiles designers,” said Ms. Archana. She was all set to present her findings in changes in block printing on different fabrics in the first week of July before a jury of experts in textile designs at the NIFT-Mumbai.
Ms. Archana, a volunteer of the block printing centre ‘Udyogika’ being run by the Navy Wives Welfare Association of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, was also working on basics in printing technology and process of the Kalamkari art to train the volunteers at ‘Udyogika.’
“Being a professional textile designer, I had a plan to work with the Kalamkari craftsmen to see my designs printed in the age old art form,” said Mr. Archana. On history front, her research work also speaks volumes about how the Kalamkari art became a part of the rich cultural history of Machilipatnam and Pedana and its evolution from the 16th century.
