JANUARY 27, 2023

2023 New Trend: Block Print

WRITTEN BY ANNIKA TROBMAN

Block printing has been around for centuries and originated in China during the third century AD. However, Jaipur, India, is now the capital of block printing. India is one of the most famous sources of fine artisan prints when it comes to block printing on fabric. Artisans are incredibly dedicated to their craft, so much so that there are countless communities in Jaipur dedicated to the ancient art. Patterns are first drawn on wood, then carved and mounted on handles. The blocks are dipped in non-toxic ink and then stamped by hand on a large piece of fabric. There are typically several pattern blocks used, and since it’s done by hand the images never line up perfectly. This is one of the main ways to distinguish hand-block printed fabric from screen/digitally printed alternatives. Block printing by hand is what makes each piece one of a kind. 

Our block print bags by Joyn Bags are all made in India. Joyn uses slow processes to make their products in small batches. They use natural dyes made from plants and flowers and create each pattern by hand with large blocks of wood. Each piece is one of a kind and made from generations of block printing craftsmanship. 

Joyn’s vision is to be a different kind of business - a conduit for opportunities in underserved communities, bringing hand made products to people across the world with fairness, equality and justice. At the heart of JOYN is their commitment to hand making their products. They celebrate and value the skilled work of our artisans and believe that slowing down the manufacturing process creates true connection to the things we own. Joyn is proud to be one of the few fashion brands that does its manufacturing in house. They believe this gives true transparency on how their products are made and ensures they can commit to fair living wages, a safe and wonderful working environment, upskilling opportunities and profit sharing with our teams. Joyn does not mass produce, but works with small, sustainable production runs, each time creating a small batch of handcrafted products, making each one beautifully unique.

A Joyn Bag is not just another handbag. Because each one is hand-crafted from start to finish, they are beautifully unique, bringing you connection, inspiration and a canvas for your own creativity. Each piece tells a story, from design to manufacture, all the way to the final product that lands from the hands of Joyn’s artisans to yours.

At HerStory, we are proud to support many brands whose artisans use block printing techniques to create beautiful products. These include Joyn, Hess, Joanna Buchanan, and Miguelina.