In the resist printing technique, material
like clay, wax, resin or the mixture of
all this is used and applied over the area
which is to be printed, to resist the dye.
The fabric is then immersed in the dye bath.
After dying, the material attached to the
fabric to resist the dye is removed. The
seepage of dye into the edged of the resist
areas creates a tonal effect. The tonal
effect thus produced is subtle and soft.
Resist printing technique is popular in
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and
other parts of the country. The city of Jaisalmer is popular for its
wax resist printing work The print on a
Jaisalmer wedding dress is a spectacular
one, with a design of squares in red, pink
and black. A variety of utilitarian items
like sheets, covers, tablemats etc are also
made here.
Tamil Nadu is known for its craft of Amman
selai, a ritual offering in fabric, which
is made to the village goddess. Amman selai
is of two kinds. The plain woven one known
as the Kinar selai and the Muthukatti selai,
which has ornamental pallavs and borders.
Using the wax resist process creates these
ornamental pallavs and borders. Metal blocks
of different variety are used . The process
of creating a good Amman selai is painstaking
and not only involves resist dying but also,
tie and dye and fabric painting
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