Building Blocks
Hand block printing has a distinct quality. The repetition isn't tedious; it's meditative. Each press of the block is deliberate, tactile, satisfying. It turns out this quality makes it a wonderful fit for adults with autism and special needs, who often bring remarkable focus and precision to exactly this kind of work.
That's what led us to Gurukulam.
In 2019, we set up a hand block printing unit on their premises and trained their students. What happened next still makes us smile. In a little over a year, Gurukulam had its own store: bags, curtains, sarees, cushion covers, masks, and yes, T-shirts for Hastha. They take custom orders. Their students are not hobbyists. They are makers.
This is Project Building Blocks: our effort to bring this model to more special schools across Chennai and beyond.
The heart of any block printing unit is its block library. Good blocks, carefully carved, a mix of classic and contemporary, directly shape how beautiful and sellable the products become. We know this from experience. Setting up a new unit means giving it access to the right blocks from the start.
Here's how the library works: schools borrow blocks from Hastha's collection and, over time, return them in exchange for newer ones. As more schools join, we keep building the library alongside them.
A carved wooden block costs between ₹200 and ₹1,000. If you'd like to sponsor one or several, you can choose an amount or transfer directly to: Hastha Merchandise Axis Bank Current Account: 918020010769957 IFSC: UTIB0003662
Every block that goes into this library goes into someone's hands, their livelihood, and their pride in their work.