The Sanganeri Story
The Sanganeri Story
A Craft Born in the Heart of Rajasthan
Nestled on the banks of the Saraswati river, just south of Jaipur, lies the town of Sanganer — the birthplace of one of India's most celebrated textile traditions: Sanganeri block printing. For over 500 years, the artisans of Sanganer have transformed plain cotton cloth into living canvases of colour, pattern, and cultural memory.
At COTT10 by 10Threads, we are proud to call Sanganer home. Every shirt, kurta, and garment we create carries within it the spirit of this ancient craft — and the hands of the skilled craftspeople who keep it alive.
The Art of the Block
Sanganeri block printing is a meticulous, entirely hand-crafted process. Each design begins as a hand-carved wooden block — often crafted from teak or sheesham wood — etched with intricate motifs inspired by nature: flowers, paisleys, birds, vines, and geometric patterns drawn from centuries of Rajasthani artistic tradition.
The process unfolds in careful stages:
- Fabric Preparation: The cloth is washed, treated, and stretched flat on long printing tables.
- Colour Mixing: Natural and vegetable-based dyes are prepared — earthy reds, indigo blues, forest greens, and saffron yellows that are the hallmark of authentic Sanganeri work.
- Block Printing: The artisan dips the carved wooden block into the dye and stamps it onto the fabric with steady, practised hands — aligning each impression perfectly to create a seamless, repeating pattern.
- Drying & Fixing: The printed fabric is sun-dried on open grounds, then washed to fix the colours and reveal their full vibrancy.
No two pieces are ever exactly alike. The slight variations in pressure, alignment, and dye absorption are not imperfections — they are the signature of the human hand, the mark of authenticity.
A UNESCO-Recognised Heritage
Sanganeri block printing is recognised as a traditional craft of outstanding cultural significance. The craft has been practised across generations, passed down from master artisans to apprentices in an unbroken chain of knowledge that stretches back centuries. Today, it stands as one of India's most iconic textile traditions — celebrated globally for its elegance, intricacy, and the stories it tells.
Handcrafted in Sanganer, Worn by the World
When you wear a COTT10 garment, you are wearing a piece of this living heritage. Each print on our fabrics has been stamped by hand in Sanganer, Jaipur — by artisans who have devoted their lives to mastering this craft. We work directly with these craftspeople, ensuring fair wages, ethical practices, and the preservation of techniques that might otherwise be lost to time.
Our designs bridge the ancient and the contemporary — traditional Sanganeri motifs reimagined for modern wardrobes, without ever losing the soul of the original craft.
Why It Matters
In a world of fast fashion and mass production, Sanganeri block printing is a quiet act of resistance. It is slow, intentional, and deeply human. Every garment takes time — time to carve, time to print, time to dry. That time is what makes it meaningful.
When you choose COTT10, you are not just choosing a shirt. You are choosing to support a 500-year-old tradition, a community of artisans, and a more conscious way of making and wearing clothes.
"Handcrafted in Sanganer, Rajasthan. Worn with pride, everywhere."