Filters
Dabu is a resist-printing technique — here, artisans use a mud paste to cover certain parts of the fabric before dyeing. The areas covered in mud don’t take on color, which creates a play of negative space (the resisted, lighter parts) against the dyed background. Because this process is repeated several times, Dabu prints often have a soft, layered look with beautiful variations in tone.
Bagru, on the other hand, is a direct-printing technique. Instead of covering areas, artisans dip wooden blocks directly into natural dyes and stamp the motifs onto the cloth. This gives Bagru designs a bold, sharp look where the positive space — the printed parts — stands out strongly against the plain background. So while Dabu feels more muted, earthy, and textured, Bagru appears more defined, crisp, and vibrant.
These crafts carry more than technique — they carry legacy. Generations of artisans have shaped this tradition with their bare hands, letting the soil speak in shades and stamps.
At Ushvii, we celebrate Dabu and Bagru not just as textile arts, but as time-honored conversations between land and maker. The Ushvii Desert Print Edit is an ode to slow making — in muted tones, sun-baked textures, and prints that breathe.
Because in Dabu and Bagru, every motif is a memory.
Every layer is a landscape.
Every saree is a soil-born story.
Mitti se ubhri kahani — not just printed, but remembered.
