Exotic, tropical fabrics, like Hawaiian Fabric and Asian Fabric are special to those who haunt the beaches and hunt for sand dollars. We especially love the pure free-flowing artwork of hand-crafted Batik Cotton Fabric and Batik Rayon Fabric.
"Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique used on textile. Batik fabric is found in several countries of West Africa, such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali, and in Asia, such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. However, it is in Indonesia that it is considered a national art form." From: Batik [Internet]. Wikipedia.com, The Free Encyclopedia.
The desired Batik fabric pattern is drawn onto the cloth with hot wax, then the cloth is dipped into dye. The practice of applying the wax started as a form of meditation by female courtiers of Central Java. Now patterns are stamped onto the cloth, often using large copper stamps. Wherever the wax seeps through the fabric, the dye does not penetrate.
Flowers, plants, flowers, birds, fish, and geometric patterns can all be found in Batik fabric patterns.
Designs are either geometric or freehand, or a combination of the two. Geometric Batik fabric features repetitive elements, circles, weaving designs, parallel diagonal elements, and triangular designs.
Geographic regions produce identifiable Batik fabric patterns and color schemes. Because Islam forbids depicting lifelike pictures, stylized patterns are often seen. Other influences, such as Chinese and European batik design has influenced batik color and patterns.
The Chinese, for example, contributed flower and bird motifs, border patterns, and the use of pink, yellow, and blue.
Like everything else, the art of Batik fabric has continued to evolve. While still maintaining ties to the past, the new batik is just that... "New".
Contemporary Batik fabric artists use tools and techniques that are popular today, like etching, stencils, unique wax formulations, and integrate other materials, like silk, cotton, or ceramics. Combinations of waxes can offer the artist crazing and crackling effects that are unique to Batik fabric.
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