Tie and Dye of Rajasthan – Art and Craft Special

The dyers from all over the world have liberally made use of tyeing and dying as a unique style of coloring a fabric. Visiting the state of Rajasthan will take you close to various designs and patterns of tie and dye. Rajasthanis love wearing various styles of this art. This art has been a part of Rajasthanis for long now. In fact, travelers to the state often have passion for buying the fabrics of bandhini, as it locally called.

The Rajasthani costumes are more vibrant and fashionable because of this art. This traditional art has became more contemporary by modern day color schemes and patters. But the basic style and essence remains the same. The fashionable style of west got popular as a part of hippie style in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The trend was further intensified by famous musicians like John Sebastian and Janis Joplin.

Method of Tie and Dye

This beautiful art of coloring is not that difficult but requires patience and some skill of coloring the fabric to beautify it. The conventional form of dying the cloth is to tie the cloth with thread and then dying it using different colors. The first thing dyers do for dying is washing and degumming the fabric. Then they wrap and fold the cloth into many patterns and styles. Red mud color blocks are used and thread is wound round the cloth. The process of dying is carried out by dying the lightest color dyed first followed by the darker hues. The threads are disentangled hen the fabric dries and beautiful patterns are ready.

Folds and Patterns of Tie and Dye

To give varied styles, the modern technique uses many kinds of folds. You can have the Spiral Patterns by pleats of fabric arranged in swirls around a central point. Fold the cloth piece half vertically, drawing a line diagonally and you can have a V shaped pattern. You can even have Random styles and Random circles with tie and dye.

Colors of Tie and Dye

The aesthetic essence of the art is the vibrancy of colors used in dying. Each color has its own connotation. Where Red is the symbolic of marriage, there saffron is symbol of sainthood renouncing the world, Yellow denotes spring, Black and Maroon are not so bright.

Fabrics For Tie and Dye

You can have elegant pieces of tie and dye ranging from saris, odhani, handkerchiefs, shawls, lehanga choli (Long Skirt and blouse) turbans, shirts, T shirts, tops, bedsheets, cushion covers, pillow covers, table cloth etc. Cotton, Chiffon, Georgette and Woolen fabrics can be tied and dyed easily.

Hub of Tie and Dye Fabrics

Rajasthan and Gujarat are the main centers of this art where you can have graceful and modern fabrics of this art. Modifications and glorifications have accentuated the elegance of tie and dye fabrics. The regions of Jamnagar in Saurashtra and Ahmedabad in Gujarat have contributed greatly to the art. Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali, Udaipur and Nathdwara in Rajasthan display finest works of Bandhini. Pochmapalli is another center for Bandhini.