Ajrakh is a highly intricate form of textile block printing traditionally practiced in Gujarat.  It uses natural dyes and a complex, multi-stage resist-dyeing process on cotton fabric. MarketPlace partners with master artisan Sufiyan Ismail Khatri, whose family has practiced this art for generations. Ajrakh involves multiple blocks, layers of printing, and resist applications using natural materials like mud, lime, and gum, followed by dyeing in indigo, madder, and other plant-based colors.

Sufiyan and his team also practice clamp dyeing, in which fabric is folded and clamped between shaped blocks of wood. These blocks prevent dye from penetrating certain areas, creating dramatic and surprising designs after dyeing.