Ajrak is a traditional pride of Sindh. It is symbolic to honour, cultural significance and a sense of identity for Sindhis.
jrak art is a special form of hand block printing which had begun in Sindh, Pakistan prior to the partition of India.
People from all over the world love Sindhi Ajrak designs, particularly with the beautiful art of colours and blocks to differentiate them.
The history of the Ajrak goes back in time, connecting with cotton An early settlement from the lower Indus Valley came up with a way to grow the Gossypium Arboreum or Cotton tree. Those civilisations were said to have mastered making cotton clothes.
There is no connection between Ajrak with class or status. The Ajrak is a special handmade craft from Sindh with both rich and poor wearing it.
Initially, Ajrak block designs were made on shawls, In modern times Ajrak features a wide range of products such as ladies’ suits, dupattas, sarees, bedsheets and much more. It has gone onto to become a fashion statement across the globe.
The word Ajrak is also linked to the Arabic word indigo which symbolizes blue color. Ajrak is a type of block-printed textile which is done by resist-dyed using natural colors, including indigo and madder. It was initially crafted by Khatris community in Kutch, Gujarat and is identified by its color- blue with red – and its complex geometric & floral patterns.
Ajrakh Block Printing dates back to early medieval times. Scraps of printed fragments which were believed to originate from Western India and this crafts was practiced by Khatri community of living in the banks of river Sandhu. Later these families migrated to Kutch from Sindh in the 16th century, when the king of Kutch recognized Ajrakh Block Printing & invited them to settle in.
Nowadays, Ajrakh Block Printing can be seen on almost everything, be it your kurta, or Ajrak printed sarees, blankets, pillows etc. The charm of this print is unique and very classy.
Ajrak maybe synonymous with Sindh, Pakistan but is known all over the world. People love the simplicity of an elegant Ajrak that one can use in thier daily lives as well as on the occasions.
Ajrak is displayed in many exhibitions nationally. But with the growing awareness, it is also exhibiting internationally.
Many designers are using Ajrak with a touch of other desi techniques like gota (emroidery) and sequences. The creativity of using Ajrak has reached far afield.