Stories from the atelier
and the road
Craftsmanship, travel, style and the quiet details behind every hand block printed piece.
The art of hand block printing
Carved wooden blocks, natural dyes and a rhythm that has not changed in three hundred years.
Packing light for long weekends
A cabin-friendly method built around one tote, two pouches and a very short list of rules.
How to care for quilted cotton
Quilted cotton is forgiving, washable and long lived — here is how to keep it looking new.
The Tote Edit: five ways to wear one bag
From an early flight to a late dinner, the quilted tote is the most quietly versatile thing you own.
Inside the Jaipur atelier
A morning with the printers, quilters and tailors who make every Qrubiss piece by hand.
Marigold: the story of a print
How a flower sold by the armful outside Jaipur's temples became our most requested design.
An hour in the market
Vegetables, flowers, one very full tote — the weekly ritual our bags were designed around.
Why small batch matters
We make a few dozen of each print, then retire the block. Here is the reasoning.
The Kaftan Edit: dressing for warm evenings
Block printed cotton kaftans, styled from the pool at noon to dinner at nine.
Traveling with hand printed cotton
Cotton creases, cotton recovers — a short guide to keeping printed pieces sharp on the road.
Color notes: indigo and madder
Two dyes, several centuries of use, and why they still behave better than anything synthetic.
A guide to choosing your first tote
Size, print and handle drop — the three decisions that matter, in the order they matter.
Best handmade bags for women in 2026
A practical shortlist for US shoppers who want a real handmade bag rather than a factory print.
How to choose the right everyday tote bag
Size, handle drop, closure and fabric — decided in the order that actually matters.
Best tote bags for travel
What makes a tote work as a personal item, and how to pack one so security is painless.
What to pack in an everyday tote
A short list that covers a normal American weekday without turning a bag into a suitcase.
How to style a cotton tote bag
Printed cotton is a statement piece — build the rest of the outfit quietly around it.
Handmade vs mass-produced bags: what you are actually paying for
Where the money goes in each, and why hand printing changes how a bag ages.
Best bags for weekend getaways
Two nights, one bag, no checked luggage — how to make it work.
Best travel pouches for women
Why a set of three beats one big toiletry bag, and how to divide what goes where.
How to organize your carry-on
A three-pouch method that makes airport security fast and unpacking faster.
Best toiletry pouches for travel
What to check before buying: fabric, seams and whether the thing can actually be washed.
How to style a kaftan
Three ways to wear one cotton kaftan: beach, lunch and dinner.
Best kaftans for beach vacations
What to look for in a cover-up you will wear all week, not once.
What to wear for a resort vacation
A one-carry-on packing list for a week somewhere warm.
Holiday gift guide: handmade gifts under $30
Black Friday through Christmas, a short list of gifts that do not feel generic.
How to choose one bag for work and travel
The compromises worth making when a single tote has to do Monday and the airport.
Best cotton bags for everyday use
Which print survives daily wear, and what actually makes a cotton tote last.
Best makeup pouches for travel
Why the pouch that works at home usually fails on a trip.
How to organize a travel bag so you stop unpacking it
A system that survives three flights and a rental car.
How to choose the right travel pouch
Set of three or a single structured pouch — the honest difference.
How to choose a cotton kaftan
Neckline, sleeve and weight — the three decisions that matter.
Kaftan outfit ideas for summer
Five ways to wear one, from a Saturday market to an August dinner.
How to pack kaftans for vacation
Roll, do not fold — and other things cotton rewards.
Best resort wear for women
What actually gets worn on a warm-weather trip, and what comes home unpacked.