Ghalamkar (Textil Stamp Printing)

Ghalamkari or Kalamkari is a type of block-printed or hand-painted cotton textile, produced in parts of Iran and India. Its name originates in the Persian,قلمکار which is derived from the words qalam (pen) and kari (craftmanship), meaning drawing with a pen. Only natural dyes are used in kalamkari and it involves seventeen steps.


In printing, wooden blocks, stencils, engraved plates, rollers, or silkscreens can be used to place colours on the fabric. Colourants used in printing contain dyes thickened to prevent the colour from spreading by capillary attraction beyond the limits of the pattern or design.

Key words: 

Ghalamkar , Textil Stamp Printing , Persian handicraft , Isfahan , Iranian textil handicraft