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The History of Block Print & Hand Block Printing in India

The history of block print is woven through the tapestry of many different cultures, from ancient Egypt to Rome, however, most historians point to China as the origin of this art. The first and oldest evidence of block printing dates back to May 11th of the year 868, when the “Diamond Sutra” was printed in Dunhuang, China. This sixteen foot long scroll is not only an important Buddhist text, but it also happens to be the oldest printed book in human existence.

Mexicali owners Pete and Kim are lucky enough to have visited the farms, fields, woodshops, workshops, and communities where each of our block print fabrics are made. There, they met the artisans, farmers, designers, and community members who help keep this tradition alive. Whereas many manufacturers have mechanized this process, our Indian block print textiles are made by hand, in fact by MANY HANDS, from start to finish.

Continue reading to learn more about the Indian block print process…

Meet the Maker: Deepak from India 🇮🇳

Deepak is a thoughtful man with kind eyes, a big heart, and a bright smile. Deriving from Sanskrit “source of light,” Deepak (दीपक ) is a Hindi word that literally translates to “lamp,” and it couldn’t be a better name for a human who shines their light so brightly on the world. Did we mention his poetic passion for making beautiful five point and seven point paper star lanterns?

S.M.I.L.E. - M (Made, Not Manufactured) 🤲🧶🧵

The “M” helps answer all of the important questions: the “who”, “what”, “where”, “why”, and “how”s, that help you become connected to the process and feel good about your purchase.

Made not manufactured means that you can meet the maker.

“Made” means that there are many smiling faces and even more talented hands behind every product. The minds that design, the hands that create, their families, and the communities that they support, all play an incredibly important role in the process. Who makes your clothing? Who sewed your curtains?...

Meet the Maker: Fernando from Peru 🇵🇪

Peru is a place of wonder, marinated in the magical history of the ancient Mayan civilization, full of archaeological bounty, and brimming with natural beauty all the way from the beautiful Andes to the Amazon. It is also home to one of our oldest friends and vendors, Fernando. Fernando first came to Maine to study abroad in high school, and not knowing what he would encounter, he packed his bags full of Peruvian jewelry. Using his charm he quickly sold it all and recognized that there was a market for South American wares in Maine, and asked his family to send him more. It was during this time that Fernando met Eric, one of the original co-founders of Mexicali, and the rest is history...

Happy World Hoop Day! Jaime Spreads the Hooping Love at Mexicali & Beyond!

Meet Jaime, our Assistant Store Manager in Newcastle and maker of our unique and colorful hula hoops! Jaime has been making her own adult sized hula hoops for several years and has been spreading the good hooping vibes for even longer. In honor of World Hoop Day today, we took a minute to find out […]

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