In a world that’s constantly evolving, certain traditions remain quintessentially timeless, like slipping into a breezy, beautiful, comfortable, hand-block print garment, the perfect choice for the sweltering heat. IORA is housed at MILK, the iconic children’s toy and bookshop and the Milk & Honey Cafe, one of the first on the island to introduce a philosophy to encourage healthier eating through organic, locally produced, wholesome foods.
While IORA clothing has always been available at MILK, they have just opened a store within the store at 44A Horton Place, Colombo 7. IORA offers contemporary interpretations and unique silhouettes done in the age-old Rajasthani fabric craft of hand block printing. The brand emphasizes vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and details, resulting in sophisticated bohemian designs ideal for lounging, with a focus on quality and ethical production. They are also introducing a children’s range of clothing in keeping with their location!
Created by women for women, with the emphasis on working with women-run and owned businesses, from fabric to the designers to the crafting of clothes, bags, and accessories. From inception to completion, IORA works with women-led businesses like the non-profit organisation Booteek, who work with underprivileged women in Sri Lanka marketing their handmade bags and pouches, and Sustainablee, who do eco-friendly notebooks.
You can always sense the presence of the hands who make these beautiful pieces, which gives the products a strong sense of provenance because they are touched by human hands, made by individuals and not mass produced. If, like me, you’ve started to get this feeling that everything was becoming so homogenized, between fast fashion and the constant [cycle] of trends, this is the opposite: everything is slowed down. Some fabrics, garments, and bags take weeks, even months to complete, and it really made me think of the old adage that something worth having is worth waiting for.
Hand-block print, an art form, is a centuries-old technique rooted in tradition, dating back to ancient India, China, and Egypt. Hand block printing is a laborious and demandingly precise process. Natural dyes are mixed just-so, then layered in exact amounts of colour in just the right place, over and over, to transform a blank sheet of fabric into a work of colourful brilliance. It involves working with lightweight fabrics such as cotton. This artisanal process transforms simple fabrics into intricate works of art, where each piece carries the mark of human creativity and history. Artisans begin by hand-carving intricate designs onto wooden blocks, often spending hours perfecting a single pattern. These blocks, made from materials like teak or rosewood, are then dipped into dyes, sometimes derived from plants, minerals, or flowers, ensuring both the richness of the colours and their eco-friendliness. The IORA range uses some fabrics crafted with organic AZO-free dyes, a more environmentally friendly option that prioritises human health and the planet.
These dyes are a more sustainable alternative.
The hand block process doesn’t stop there, after dyeing, the blocks are carefully pressed onto fabric by hand, aligning each stamp with precision to create repeated or flowing patterns. This requires great skill, as the artist must ensure that each print is uniform and clean, yet slightly varied, giving each fabric a distinctive character. The small differences in colour or alignment are not flaws but rather signs of authenticity that make each garment unique.
The hand block process doesn’t stop there, after dyeing, the blocks are carefully pressed onto fabric by hand, aligning each stamp with precision to create repeated or flowing patterns. This requires great skill, as the artist must ensure that each print is uniform and clean, yet slightly varied, giving each fabric a distinctive character.
These block prints are timeless, and I believe that’s why their prominence and endurance are limitless. The prints and process both derive from a life source that is so personal to the people who played a part in the creation of the print, the artisan who carved the wood block, the artisan who mixed the dyes, printed on the fabric, washed the fabric by hand and foot, etc. The popularity of block prints isn’t driven by trend; it’s driven by the innate wondering and longing for person-to-person connection. Take your pick from gorgeous maxi dresses, flowing skirts in the most divine prints, tops and vests, kaftans and co-ord loungewear, from the most comfortable pyjamas in the softest fabrics to exquisite robes (which also look great over a pair of jeans/shorts), and night-dresses that can be worn at home or belted and worn out!
Most of us have that one piece that gets about three times more wear than anything else in our closets, for me it’s the IORA batwing shirt dress. It meets my three rules: I have to feel polished when I wear it, a challenge in sticky temperatures, and I must be able to pair it with both flats and heels. It ticks all my boxes!!!
Take one look at IORA’s beautiful pieces, and you’ll be as charmed as I was. I’ve found the appeal to be near-universal. See why this up-and-coming label might be the maker of your new favourite wardrobe staples; pop in and take a look at 44A Horton Place, Colombo 07.
