Ajrakh

Ajrak (Sindhi: اجرڪ‎) is a unique form of block-printed design found in Sindh, Pakistan; Kutch, Gujarat; and Barmer, Rajasthan in India.

Ajrak can be traced back to the civilizations of the Indus Valley that existed around 2500 BC-1500 BC. The term “Ajrak”, may have been derived from the word “Azrak”, which means blue in Arabic. Precisely why blue is one of the principle colours used in Ajrak printing.

Local practitioners believe that Ajrakh literally means “keep it today.” A laborious sixteen-step process is followed to create the fabric. The first step of making the fabric is to wash, dye, print, and dry the fabric. The fabric is put to rest for the next day.

Ajrakh is a mixture of cotton and wool. Cotton gives it strength and durability, and wool gives it warmth. It is very easy to clean, it can be machine washed and dried. It is light to drape in the summers, while it is known to keep warm in the harsh winters.