Tiger Maxi Dress Organic Cotton Natural Dye Hand Block Printed

Description

This full-length maxi dress is made from naturally dyed Organic Cotton. The deep, flattering V-neck leads to a wide empire line/ high waistband band with gathered pleats at the front below the band, giving fullness to the skirt and an elasticated panel at the back for comfort and keeping it a snug fit.

The three quarter length gentle bell sleeves, add to the bohemian look. A tiger stripe hand printed with Dabu mud resist technique finishes each sleeve. And, very importantly, the dress has two deep side seam pockets.

The fabric of this dress is what makes it especially special! It was produced especially for Haruka in a very limited quantity. It is 100% organic cotton dyed with natural dyes. The cotton has then undergone two age-old hand printing processes traditional to Rajasthan, both of which, to be done well, requires great skill and accuracy. I feel so blessed that the family who designed and produced this exquisite cloth have been block printing for seven generations and are a wealth of knowledge and skill. 

The tiger image is block printed from a hand-carved wood block and the tiger stripes were created through a process of Dabu Mud Resist which involves a labour intensive natural process. In brief, a mud resist mixture is made with gum, lime and white chaff, this mixture is applied to the fabric in patterns with blocks, then completely dried. Post drying, the fabric is dipped in a vat of natural dye which does not penetrate the patterns made with the mud, this is again dried, followed by several washes to remove excess dye and then the paste. Hence the design is formed.

I am blown away by the subtle, graceful beauty and imagery that has been created with age old printing techniques on this fabric. It's a work of art and took a lot of time to make by hand, the energy in it is so palpable to me.

I made a very limited quantity of this dress. I am definitely keeping one! I hope you love it as much as me

SIZE GUIDE: Based on UK measurements:

XS: 8-10

S: 10-12

M: 12-14

L: 14-16

XL: 16-18

CARE:   Hand wash cold with gentle detergent, do not soak, do not dry in strong direct sunlight and do not tumble dry. Please be aware that natural dyes fade slowly over time, this is part of their magic, I love the way that pieces evolve with wear