The drawing was traced onto thin, semi-transparent paper. This is placed over the wood, and the outline is retraced with a pencil or stylus. This serves as a precise guide for carving, ensuring each element of the design will be accurately reproduced.

Following the pencil markings, skilled artisans carve out the negative spaces to form a raised relief of the design, which will later be inked and pressed onto fabric.

The block is typically soaked in oil to prepare it for printing, conditioning the wood, extending its lifespan and ensuring smoother application of dye in printing. Now the Wild Garden block is ready!

Artisans dip the block into dye, press it firmly onto a long table of stretched, taut cotton, and lift it off in one swift motion. They repeat this with different blocks and colors, aligning each impression meticulously to build up the final design.

The prints are conditioned and finished with a combination of steaming, sun drying and washing. Not to mention the softness and subtle warmth this gives the colours. It's a traditional process powered by the sun and the talent of craftsmen!

It was so special to shoot this new collection in the blue room of Deeppura Garh, an immaculately restored painted haveli in the Shekhawati region of India, owned by jewellery designer Maria Grazia Baldan. Flowers from the garden filled blue pottery vases while jewel-tone coupes from Rayt kept the monotone feel.