All the blocks we see —floral, geometric, symbolic—were carved with an understanding that they would be used thousands of times, often by different hands, across decades.
Each block held:
-
a repeat rhythm
-
allowance for human pressure
-
space for dye to behave unpredictably
Machines aim for consistency. Blocks allow for conversation.
A slight shift of the wrist changes a motif. A deeper press darkens a flower. Over time, the block itself softens, carrying the record of its own use.
This is why hand-printed textiles feel alive. They are not copies; they are siblings.
A reflection for you:
In a world that prizes precision, what do we lose when we erase the human hand?