From the Land of the Rajas:

Creativity in Rajasthan

Perhaps the most popular and distinctive decorative technique in Rajasthan is tie-dying; other common forms are block-printing, appliqué, and embroidery.  There are two common forms of tie-dying:  tying patterns with threads or pressing the cloth onto wooden blocks with projecting nails before tying it with wax-coated strings, which will resist the dye.  Block-printing can be done either with blocks directly dipped in dye or into a wax or gum coating that will resist the dye.  Embroidery, employing a wide range of stitches and motifs, is a highly-developed art in the state, and is especially popular among the tribal peoples.  The clothing destined for royalty commonly used threads of silver, gold, and other precious materials.  

(Top) Woman block-printing Photo by Renaldo Maduro, Nathadwara, 1969–70	(Top) Loom Photo by Susan Jamart, 1977
(Bottom) Woman embroidering Photo by Renaldo Maduro, Nathadwara, 1969–70	(Bottom) Man tie-dying turban cloths  Photo by Richard Lerner, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 1970