What Is Bagru Print? History, Process and How to Spot It
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The short answer: Bagru print is a traditional textile printing craft from Bagru, a town near Jaipur in Rajasthan. It is practised by the Chhipa community of printers and dyers, and is known for hand-carved wooden blocks, a mud-resist technique called dabu, and earthy colours like indigo, red and black. At The Bed Edit, our Indigo Edit bedsheets are finished in our Indigo Bagru craft: white motifs on deep indigo, on pure cotton.
Where does Bagru print come from?
Bagru is a small town near Jaipur. Its printers have worked here for generations, and the craft is commonly described as more than 400 years old. The town's clay-rich soil and its river helped make it a natural centre for printing and dyeing, which need a lot of washing and drying in the sun.
The craft is practised mainly by the Chhipa community. The name is often linked to the Hindi word for printing, and many Chhipa families have passed their blocks and skills down for generations. Bagru hand block printing has also been recognised with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which links the craft to its place of origin.
How is traditional Bagru print made?
Traditional Bagru printing is slow, layered work. While each workshop has its own methods, the process usually looks like this:
- Preparing the cloth. The cotton is washed and soaked to remove starch and impurities, so it can take the colour evenly.
- Carving the blocks. Motifs are hand-carved into wooden blocks, often sheesham. A single floral motif can need several blocks: one for the outline, others to fill in colour and detail.
- Printing by hand. The printer dips a block in colour and presses it onto the cloth, one impression at a time, lining up each repeat by eye.
- Dabu, the mud resist. For resist designs, a paste of clay, gum and other natural materials is printed onto the cloth. The paste blocks the dye, so when the cloth is dipped, the covered areas stay light.
- Dyeing and washing. The cloth is dyed, often in indigo, then washed and dried in the sun. Complex designs can go through several rounds of printing and dyeing.
Traditionally, Bagru printers have used colours from plants and minerals: indigo for blue, madder for red, and iron-based mixtures for black.
What does Bagru print look like?
- Earthy, deep grounds. Bagru is known for darker backgrounds such as indigo, rust, black and khaki, with lighter motifs on top.
- Nature-inspired motifs. Small floral bootis, buds, leaves and vines, along with jaal (lattice) patterns and geometric borders.
- A handmade feel. Because each block is placed by hand, small shifts in alignment and shade are normal. They are part of the character of the craft, not flaws.
Bagru vs Sanganeri vs Dabu: what's the difference?
These names come up together because they're all Rajasthani printing traditions near Jaipur, but they aren't the same thing.
- Bagru is a place-based craft from the town of Bagru, known for earthy, darker grounds and mud-resist work.
- Sanganeri printing comes from Sanganer, also near Jaipur, and is usually associated with lighter, often white backgrounds and fine, delicate florals.
- Dabu is a technique, not a place. It is the mud-resist method used in Bagru and other printing centres.
Our Indigo Bagru bedsheets
Our Indigo Edit brings the look of Bagru to everyday bedding: white motifs on deep indigo grounds, finished in our Indigo Bagru craft. Natural variations are part of this traditional process, so every bedsheet is slightly unique.
- Fabric: 100% pure cotton, woven in our Everyday Cotton range with 20s cotton yarn. No blends, no microfibre.
- Size: King, 95 × 108 inches, with 2 matching pillow covers (18 × 27 inches each).
- Price: from ₹1,899.
A few designs to start with:
- Chitra: indigo patchwork squares of florals, dots and geometric motifs on white, with a deep indigo border.
- Patralika: crisp white leaf sprigs on deep indigo, with bands of geometric pattern along the border.
- Kashish: a dense indigo and white floral lattice framed by wide patterned bands.
- Kalindi: small white bootis in neat rows on indigo, with a wide border of white paisleys.
How to style an indigo Bagru bedsheet
- Indigo and white look fresh against white, ivory, pale grey and warm neutral walls.
- Warm wood and cane furniture soften the pattern and suit the craft's handmade feel.
- Layer with plain cushions in indigo, ivory, natural linen or muted rust. Skip a second large print, as the bedsheet already carries plenty of pattern.
- For a final layer, add a plain ivory, beige or indigo dohar.
How to care for indigo printed cotton
- Wash separately for the first few washes, as deep colours like indigo can release some dye at first.
- Use cold or lukewarm water (up to 30°C) with a mild or liquid detergent.
- Avoid bleach, fabric softener, soaking and hard scrubbing.
- Dry in shade rather than direct sunlight to protect the colour, and iron on low if needed.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bagru print?
Bagru print is a traditional block printing craft from Bagru, a town near Jaipur in Rajasthan. It is known for hand-carved wooden blocks, the dabu mud-resist technique, and earthy colours like indigo, red and black.
Who makes Bagru print?
Bagru printing is practised mainly by the Chhipa community, families of printers and dyers who have passed the craft down for generations.
What is the difference between Bagru and Sanganeri print?
Both come from near Jaipur. Bagru is known for darker, earthy grounds and mud-resist work, while Sanganeri is usually associated with lighter backgrounds and fine florals.
What is dabu printing?
Dabu is a mud-resist technique. A paste of clay, gum and other natural materials is printed on the cloth to block the dye, so those areas stay light after dyeing.
Why does my indigo Bagru bedsheet vary slightly?
Natural variations are part of the character of the Indigo Bagru process, so small differences in shade and print are expected. Every bedsheet is slightly unique.
What fabric are The Bed Edit's indigo bedsheets made of?
They are 100% pure cotton, woven in our Everyday Cotton range with 20s cotton yarn, with no blends and no microfibre.
What size are your Indigo Bagru bedsheets?
Our Indigo Edit bedsheets come in King size, 95 × 108 inches, with 2 matching pillow covers of 18 × 27 inches each.
How do I wash an indigo bedsheet?
Wash it separately for the first few washes in cold or lukewarm water with a mild detergent, avoid bleach and softener, and dry it in shade.
See these fabrics in real products
These are examples of the named fabric or craft, not a guarantee that one design will suit every sleeper. Check the current size, price and availability before ordering.
