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SILK SCREENING

Silk screening, for those who have tried it, is an exceptionally involved process. Whilst watching the brilliantly talented artisans we learned that each colour must be done in an individual press, then dry before the next layer of colour is applied. The final registration, especially when gold is involved, must be perfected to precision. It is elaborate and stunning. At times it isn’t perfect, and we find the colours slightly off-set. We find this beautiful. To us, it is perfect in its imperfection because we see the human hand at work. What is produced are the stunning cards and stationery where an almost three-dimensional image of the art work is created. These become like tiny heirlooms to frame and enjoy forever. No one, either giver or recipient, ever throws these cards or papers away.

As the silk screening process is quite a pressurised one the paper must be truly robust. Therefore, the cards are made from recycled materials like fabric waste and paper waste. The wrapping paper is reproduced by recycling waste newspaper and other paper products.

Certain four coloured cards, like our beautiful Peacock pack of 5 cards, has four colours printed on. Which means it has been under the press four times, with four different screens and four different colours. Which in turn means that it has taken four days to produce one card. This is quite a laborious and precise process, but it is a labour of love. It has to be, considering the silk screening takes place in hot and humid Bombay. And production really slows down during the three torrid monsoon months when it takes more than a day for each colour to dry, before the next colour with a different screen can be layered on. Considering this, some cards could take up to a week to be produced.