Even if you haven’t heard the name, I’m sure you have seen this famous fabric. What some may not know is how batik gets its uniquely marbled appearance.
Batik
An ancient form of resist printing from Indonesia in which wax is used in patterns where dye is not desired. The wax resist is then removed and the process may continue, creating rich multicolored patterns—most often in blues, browns and oranges. Characteristic of batik are tiny lines where the wax has cracked and the dye has seeped into the resist pattern. This is not considered a flaw, rather part of the fabric’s distinct beauty. Originally almost always made of cotton, batiks today are usually cotton can be made of silk or blends.
Imitation batik is machine printed to resemble true batik.
Uses: Apparel, household decor
See also: Tie-dye
Batik-printed handwoven silk from India
©Vintage Fashion Guild - Text and photo by Margaret Wilds/denisebrain
Currently in my web store is a fascinating silk batik 7-piece outfit