Bagru Print Sarees

A Bagru print saree is easy to recognise: warm earthy colours, bold traditional motifs and the soft, slightly irregular edges that only a hand-carved wooden block can make. For generations, the Chhipa printer families of Bagru, a village about 30 km from Jaipur, have printed fabric this way, using natural dyes and a mud-resist paste called dabu.

At Blockart, a Jaipur brand founded by a third-generation block printing artisan, we print Bagru designs on four fabrics: Maheshwari silk, cotton mulmul, Kota Doria and Chanderi. This guide explains how Bagru sarees are made, how they differ from other prints, and how to choose, style and care for yours.

What is Bagru print?

Bagru print is a traditional style of hand block printing from Bagru in Rajasthan. Artisans carve designs into blocks of wood, dip them in colour or resist paste, and press them onto fabric by hand, one impression at a time. Bagru prints are usually printed on a natural or dyed ground, which gives them their deep, earthy look.

The craft is closely linked with Sanganeri printing from nearby Sanganer. Both began with the Chhipa community, but Bagru developed a bolder, darker palette while Sanganer became known for fine florals on light backgrounds.

How a Bagru saree is made

A single Bagru saree can take several days, because every colour and every stage is done by hand and the fabric is dried in the sun between steps.

1. Preparing the fabric. The fabric is washed to remove starch, and is traditionally treated with harda (myrobalan), which gives a pale yellow base and helps natural dyes bind.
2. Carving the blocks. Craftsmen carve the design into hardwood blocks, usually sheesham. A multi-colour design needs a separate block for each colour.
3. Printing the outline and colours. The printer stamps the outline first, often in black, then fills in the other colours, matching each impression by eye.
4. Applying dabu. For dabu designs, a paste of clay, lime, gum and wheat husk is printed over areas that must stay undyed, and dusted with sawdust so it does not smudge.
5. Dyeing. The fabric is dipped in a dye bath such as indigo. The dabu blocks the dye, leaving the pattern light against a coloured ground.
6. Washing and drying. The saree is washed to remove the paste and excess dye, then dried in the sun, which sets and brightens the colours.

The natural colours of Bagru

Bagru printers have traditionally made their colours from plants and minerals. Many Blockart Bagru sarees are printed in organic colours; the product page tells you when a saree is.

Bagru vs Sanganeri vs Ajrakh

Choose your Bagru saree by fabric

Not sure which to pick? For your first Bagru saree, a Maheshwari silk saree in indigo or maroon works for the widest range of occasions.

Motifs you will see

• Buttis: small repeating flowers or leaves scattered over the saree.
• Jaal: an all-over network of flowers and vines.
• Bel borders: climbing floral borders along the edges and pallu.
• Geometric patterns: diamonds, stripes and checks for a modern look.
• Paisleys and birds: classic Rajasthani motifs in many festive designs.

How to style a Bagru print saree

Every Bagru saree comes with a blouse piece. In Jaipur, our tailoring boutique stitches blouses from your measurements, with pickup and delivery. Complete the look with a block print bag.

How to care for your Bagru saree

• Dry clean the first time, especially Maheshwari and Chanderi.
• After that, hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent, separately from other clothes.
• Do not soak for long or wring; press out the water gently.
• Dry in the shade. Strong sun can fade natural dyes over time.
• Iron on low to medium heat from the reverse side.
• Store folded in a cotton or muslin cloth, and refold now and then to avoid permanent creases.

Small variations in colour and alignment are natural in hand block printing. They show the saree was made by hand, and no two are exactly the same.

Why buy Bagru sarees from Blockart

• Printed in Jaipur: made with Chhipa artisan families, close to Bagru itself.
• Founder-led craft: Blockart was started by Preeti Chhipa, a third-generation block printing artisan.
• Easy to buy: Cash on Delivery across India, and prices shown in your currency abroad.
• See it in person: visit our Jaipur store on New Sanganer Road.

Frequently asked questions