A textile tradition rooted in Gujarat is finding a new expression in sneaker design. Comet has introduced a collection featuring original Ajrakh fabric, bringing the centuries-old hand-block-printing craft into contemporary footwear through three colourways: Cream, Red and Black.
Rather than developing a sneaker silhouette and adding a print afterwards, the brand approached the collection from the textile itself. The scale of Ajrakh motifs, intricate patterns and natural colour palette informed the design and construction, making the fabric central to the finished product.
The material comes from Ajrakhpur, Gujarat, where artisans create the fabric through a detailed process involving multiple layers of hand-applied printing. Each cloth can take up to three weeks to complete, with traditional colours derived from materials such as madder root, rusted iron, lime and gum. Comet has used the original fabric in its sneakers instead of digitally reproducing the patterns.
The collection also involved a visit to the craft’s place of origin. Comet’s team travelled to Ajrakhpur to spend time with artisans and understand the techniques behind the textile. This experience subsequently informed the campaign, which was photographed in the white desert of Kutch. The landscape provides a contrasting backdrop to the detailed patterns and colours of the Ajrakh fabric.
The collection is available in three distinct interpretations. Cream offers a lighter, versatile look, Red brings a more pronounced visual statement, while Black takes a relatively understated approach. Across all three, the original hand-printed textile remains the defining feature.
By placing Ajrakh fabric at the centre of its design process, Comet is exploring how traditional Indian craftsmanship can find space in contemporary sneaker culture without relying on digital reproductions of its visual language.
The interesting part of Comet’s approach is that the craft influences the product from the beginning rather than functioning as a decorative addition. Using original hand-block-printed fabric also gives the collection a material connection to Ajrakh’s origins, bringing traditional textile work into a category shaped by contemporary design.
