Comet Introduces Ajrakh-Inspired Sneaker Collection Featuring Traditional Hand-Block-Printed Fabric

New footwear collection draws on the textile heritage of Ajrakhpur, Gujarat, incorporating original artisan-printed fabrics into contemporary sneaker designs across three colourways.

Footwear brand Comet has introduced a sneaker collection featuring traditional Ajrakh textiles sourced from Ajrakhpur, Gujarat. The collection uses original hand-block-printed fabric rather than digitally reproduced patterns and is available in three colour options: Cream, Red and Black.

The collection follows a material-led design approach, with the characteristics of the Ajrakh fabric influencing the sneaker's overall construction. Elements such as motif scale, pattern detailing and the textile's natural colour palette were considered during the design process, placing the traditional fabric at the centre of the footwear's visual identity.

Each pair incorporates authentic Ajrakh fabric produced in Ajrakhpur using a multi-stage hand-block-printing process. The preparation of each cloth can take up to three weeks, involving several layers of manual printing and traditional dyeing techniques. The colours are derived from materials including madder root, rusted iron, lime and gum.

To document the craft and understand its production methods, the Comet team visited Ajrakhpur and spent time with local artisans. The visit provided an opportunity to observe the processes involved in creating the fabric used in the collection.

The campaign accompanying the launch was photographed in Gujarat's white desert of Kutch. The landscape serves as the backdrop for the collection, featuring the patterns and colours of the Ajrakh textiles.

The collection comprises three colourways, each offering a different interpretation of the traditional fabric. Cream features a lighter colour palette, Red presents a bolder option, while Black offers a more understated look. All three retain the visual patterns of the original hand-printed material.

Through this collection, Comet incorporates a traditional Indian textile craft into contemporary sneaker design, bringing Ajrakh fabric from its place of origin into a different product category.

The Comet Ajrakh collection is available in Cream, Red and Black.