Two very different prints. One thing in common: they're both genuinely worth having in your wardrobe, not because of what's currently in fashion, but because they just work.
Look at any considered summer wardrobe, and you'll usually spot one of two things: a hand block printed top with its stamped florals and geometrics, or a good gingham check in some size or colour.
They come from completely different places; one is centuries of Rajasthani craft, the other's a simple two-colour grid that's been a wardrobe regular for decades, but they earn their place for the same reason. They look good, they go with almost everything, and they feel like a proper purchase rather than something you'll be sick of by September.
This post isn't about chasing whatever's fashionable right now. It's about why these two prints hold up regardless of the season, what actually makes the real versions worth buying, and how to wear them well.
Why These Two Prints Just Work
Let's start with gingham. It's a two-colour pattern built on the simplest shape there is, a square. That's exactly why it never really dates; there's nothing about it to go out of style. It shifts in scale and colour now and then and gets rediscovered by a new generation, but it's been genuinely useful for decades, not a flash in the pan.
Block print has never really been about following anything in the first place. Hand block printing from Rajasthan and Jaipur has been going for centuries, long before anyone was tracking what's fashionable from one season to the next. It's popular now for the same reason it's always been worth having: it's beautiful, it's made by genuinely skilled hands, and no two pieces are ever quite the same.
Both prints answer the same basic want: wearing something that feels like it was actually made with a bit of thought, rather than churned out to be replaced in a few months.
What Makes Block Print Tops Worth Knowing About
The phrase "hand block printing" gets thrown around a lot without much explanation, so here's what it actually means.
An artisan in Rajasthan, often in Jaipur or Sanganer, carves a design into a wooden block by hand. That block gets pressed into natural dye, then stamped onto fabric one impression at a time, repeated across the cloth until the pattern builds up. No machine can do this. You can't even try to speed it up without losing what makes it good. Every piece takes real time, and the small variations- a bit more ink pressure here, a slightly different dye absorption there- aren't flaws. They're proof a person made it, not a factory printer.
If you're trying to cut down on wardrobe waste, or you just want clothes that'll still be in your closet in three years, this actually matters. A block print top in natural cotton won't pill or fade the way a synthetic print will. The fabric breathes properly. The print ages along with the garment instead of peeling off it.
Block printing also keeps a lot of artisan communities going, communities who've kept this craft and this culture alive for generations. So buying a well-sourced block print top isn't just a nice piece of clothing. It's a small vote for keeping a genuinely valuable craft going.
Gingham: The Check That Never Really Goes Away
Gingham's staying power comes down to something simple. It's a two-colour pattern built on the most basic shape there is, a square. It never really disappears; it just changes scale and gets reinterpreted every so often.
Lately you'll see it in bigger, bolder checks, oversized squares turning up on loose tops and wide-leg trousers, with a different energy to the smaller checks, more graphic, more confident. But the reason it works has nothing to do with what's popular this week. It's simply an easy pattern to build an outfit around.
What makes a gingham top such a reliable buy is that it doesn't ask much of the rest of your outfit. Denim, linen, plain white cotton, it all works. The check anchors everything without fighting for attention. And in a British summer where you need something that looks put together at a pub garden lunch and also survives a weekend away, that's genuinely useful.
The Styles Actually Worth Buying
Some summer tops earn their spot in your wardrobe properly. Here are the shapes that suit both prints and are worth having.
Tie front blouse
The tie front has stuck around long enough to go from novelty to proper staple. It works because it gives you shape without anything feeling tight; the adjustable front lets it sit differently depending on your body, and a printed fabric with a bit of movement always looks good in this shape. A block print tie front blouse in cotton is something you'll wear from April right through to September without giving it a second thought.
Sustainable tank top
The honest workhorse of any summer wardrobe. A well-made cotton tank in block print or gingham keeps you comfortable through those warm, humid UK summer days when you just want a light layer that actually works. Well made is the key part; a good cotton tank breathes and holds its shape. A cheap synthetic version does neither.
Wrap around top
The wrap shape works across pretty much every body and every occasion without trying too hard. Tied at the waist, it gives you structure without any restriction. In a bold block print or gingham, it becomes a proper statement piece that still functions as an everyday top. Our wrap styles work with everything from high-waisted trousers to relaxed linen shorts.
Women's summer blouse tops
Loose, lightweight, made from natural cotton, the classic summer blouse is a genuine year-after-year favourite alongside these prints. In block print, a simple blouse shape gets lifted instantly. The print does the work; the silhouette doesn't need to do anything clever.
Do Block Print and Gingham Actually Work Together?
Normally the rule is one pattern per outfit. But here's the thing about these two: they come from totally different visual worlds, so they don't compete the way two florals or two graphics would.
Block print tends to be organic, botanical shapes, curved motifs, repeats that carry a handmade rhythm. Gingham is pure geometry. Put them together, and the contrast feels interesting rather than chaotic. A gingham tank under a loose block print shirt, or block print wide-leg trousers with a simple gingham top, both combinations read as intentional rather than accidental.
The trick is keeping everything else simple. Neutral shoes, a plain bag, no extra accessories fighting for attention. Let the prints do the talking.
Why Choose Us for Both
Our summer tops collection brings both of these prints together. The block print pieces are made from Indian cotton using traditional hand block printing, the same craft that's been practised in Rajasthan for centuries, made by artisans who are paid fairly for genuinely skilled work.
We've picked fabrics with the UK summer in mind specifically: breathable, lightweight and comfortable in warm weather, but not so sheer that you need to think twice about wearing them. These are pieces meant to actually be worn, not just photographed.
On the sustainability side, everything we do is built around slow fashion. No throwaway quantities, no synthetic fabric shedding microplastics in the wash. Our block print tops are made to last and made to be kept, which feels like exactly the right answer at a time when more women are thinking properly about what's in their wardrobe and where it came from.
How to Style a Block Print or Gingham Top This Summer
For everyday wear: A block print sustainable tank top with white wide-leg trousers and flat sandals. Skip the jewellery, the print's already doing enough.
For work (casual office): A gingham top in a relaxed blouse shape, tucked into tailored trousers. The check reads smart enough for most business casual settings.
For weekends and travel: A block print tie-front top with denim shorts or a linen midi skirt. Easy to pack, and you'll look properly put together without trying.
For evening: A wrap-around top in a deeper-toned block print with straight-leg trousers and kitten heels. The wrap shape dresses up effortlessly.
Caring for Handcrafted Tops
Block print cotton lasts really well if you look after it properly.
Cold wash only: Hot water fades the dye and shrinks the fabric.
Wash separately for the first few washes: Natural dyes can run a little at first; that's completely normal, and it settles down.
Skip the dryer: Air dry flat or on a hanger, out of direct sunlight, since direct sun fades the print over time.
Gentle detergent: Skip biological detergents on block print; they're too harsh on natural dyes.
Light iron on the reverse: If it needs ironing, turn it inside out first to protect the print.
Look after it properly and a well-made block print top will look just as good in five years as it does today. That's really the whole point of buying it.
FAQs
Are block print tops suitable for UK summer weather?
Yes, natural cotton block print fabric breathes properly and copes with the warm, often humid British summer far better than synthetic alternatives.
Does gingham ever go out of style?
Not really. It's a simple two-colour check that resurfaces in different scales and colours every so often, but it's never actually gone anywhere. It's less a passing trend and more a wardrobe regular that's always around.
How do block print tops support sustainable fashion?
Block printing is a hand production process with a genuinely low environmental footprint, no industrial machinery, natural dyes, and small batch production. Buying block print also supports artisan communities whose craft would otherwise struggle against mass manufacturing.
Can you wear printed tops without the outfit feeling too busy?
Easily, the trick is keeping everything else simple. One strong print as the focal point, neutral or solid separates, minimal accessories. The print does the work; everything else just supports it.
What makes gingham a timeless pattern?
It's built on one of the most universal shapes there is, a two-colour grid, which means it reads as classic and fresh at the same time. It updates through scale and colour rather than ever really needing to be back in fashion.
Explore our full range of handblock printed tops and gingham styles, natural cotton, slow fashion, made to be worn for more than one summer.