Brigitte Singh's handblocking workshop

Impressions of India: 27
I met Brigitte Singh at the Goa home of the inimitable Jivi and she kindly invited me to contact her when I was in Jaipur and visit her workshop there. I didn't know at the time that she is famously private and reclusive and thus that this invitation was a rare privilege.


Born and raised in France, she first came to Rajasthan's capital Jaipur at the end of the 70s to study the art of miniature painting with an Indian master, fell in love with and married his son, and made her home in Amber (pronounced 'Amer' and meaning 'high'). She then became fascinated by India's rich textile heritage and the art of woodblock printing which had declined since its zenith in the C18th. Her workshop in Amber now produces an exquisite range of clothes, furnishings and accessories which are renowned worldwide and all produced under her personal supervision.

It was fascinating to watch the many colours that made up the intricate designs being carefully built up, one layer after another.

The delicately-carved wooden blocks have a relatively short life. Once carefully positioned, they receive a short sharp blow to transfer their dye. 

As soon as their edges become blurred they have to be carved all over again.

A large team of local men and women were sitting around the light central courtyard sewing the dyed fabrics into clothes and furnishings, either with old-fashioned treadle machines or by hand.

The finished pieces are wondrously-detailed and beautifully finished, and available to buy from a little upstairs office.

And this is the charming Brigitte, who is also kept busy bringing up her little adopted Indian daughter by herself. 

Posts still to come: 

Jodhpur's fort and palace

The fabulous Jain temples en route to Udaipur

Udaipur's lake, bats and palace