''I learnt this craft from my grandfather when I was 19 year old, and today I am 42 years old continuing to pursue the legacy my forefather left." said Prahalad, one of the artisans who is still pursuing this sacred craft despite of all the hardships.
Preservation of century-old traditions is not something new here, in India.
While a part of India got behind the hubbub of industrial revolution and globalisation, there are parts wherein people stick to the foretold traditions.
In a way, those people are the very reason for the preservation of ancient convention. One of such conventions - or practices, to be specific, is Fadat. If you are curious to know what Fadat pertains to - you are in for a deep dive into the exotic parts of India.
Jaipur is the city where Fadat is practised, or say - preserved. At its core, it is a hand block printing technique actively practised in the Bagru district, which is about 35 km from Jaipur.
What's different in Fadat?
The specialty of this printing technique, when compared to the conventional ones, is the wooden block and the intricate motifs embedded on it. The printing is usually done with the said wooden block on a piece of cotton fabric. While the motifs used in this form of printing is very small and detailed, the colours used for decorating the cloth is naturally obtained - adding sustainability to the end product.
The recurring patterns are either floral or leaf-like - thus creating such tiny motifs are a herculean task. At the end of the day, it is the tiny motif that makes your outfit stand out, and look royal!
PC: Original Source
Why is such a mighty art scarce?
We have gone through the prowess of Fadat artform, but the pressing question that many, at least me, would have is why this art form is very rare? (To give you an idea, only a hand few of artisans - about 3-4, practice Fadat in Bagru - the very place where it was originated) The floral motifs would look magnificent on the fabric - on top of that wearing the colours obtained from nature would make your outfit even more grandeur! One thing is for sure - the art is not scarce because of its likeness or its downfalls in quality.
The real reason as to why the art seems to be sporadic in terms of geography is the effort required to pull this off.
Prahalad Ji explains, "The artisan has to rely on manual printing of tiny motifs. The fineness of the product often causes design slowdowns - which a merchant would be hesitant to pursue, as most of them would want their product to reach the retailers as soon as possible."
He adds, "the production is very painstaking, as the blocks are to be cleaned every time since they are often filled with mud."
Last but not the least, the natural colours used for the production are hard to obtain. After all, wearing the essence of nature doesn't come with leniency.
PC: Original Source
Why Fadat is expensive as compared to other hand block craft?
The global textile market size is fast approaching the One Trillion USD mark, as the industry generated a whopping $961.5 billion last year. It goes without saying that the textile industry would be dull if the merchants were to sell plain and simple fabrics.
We love embellished clothing, and needless to say, we want our clothes to be as good as how it is being portrayed in the reel life. That's why we don't mind spending money on something that adds value to our wardrobe. For instance, we would be more inclined to spend a hundred bucks on a printed cloth than a fifty for a piece of plain fabric.
You're not only paying for the fabric but also for the royalty of embracing nature's true colours and the rare hand block printing technique that requires utmost precision.
The Fab Tribe's Take
Fabriclore stock authentic Fadat prints sourced directly from the masters of this art form. And, it is here for you to flaunt! Pick you favourite from our Fadat Collection here.
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