Hand block printing is a traditional technique where carved wooden blocks are dipped in dye and pressed onto fabric by hand. It's safe for children's clothing and bedding when azo-free, non-toxic dyes are used. Small variations between pieces are normal and are a sign of genuine handwork, not a defect.
How it's made
A motif is carved into a teak block, then dipped in dye and pressed onto cotton by hand, one impression at a time — one block per colour, pressed in sequence.
What makes it safe for kids
The technique itself is just dye and pressure — the safety comes entirely from what dye is used. Azo-free, skin-friendly dyes are what make a block-printed piece safe for daily wear against a child's skin, same as with any printed textile.
Why pieces vary slightly
Hand pressure isn't perfectly even, so two pieces from the same block are never identical. That's the tell that it's genuinely handmade — a flawless, identical repeat usually means machine printing instead.
Why it costs more than screen printing
Screen printing stamps identical colour in seconds by machine. Block printing is slower and done by a trained artisan, one press at a time, which limits how much one person can produce in a day. The price reflects that labour.
See Our Story for more on how PEXX prints are made, or the Little collection to see it on real pieces.