World of YeoMama / Our Craft / What is Batik?
Our Craft
What is Batik?
The Origins of Batik
The origins of batik are debated, but it became deeply rooted in Java’s culture and rose to popularity between the 18th and 20th centuries. Batik is a traditional craft that uses wax and dyes to create intricate patterns on cloth. Wax is applied to specific areas, the fabric is dyed, and the process is repeated until the design is complete. This meticulous and creative process results in vibrant, detailed, and truly enchanting batik fabrics.
Scroll on and be inspired!
Batik Tulis
Hand-drawn Batik
The Technique of Patience and Perseverance.
Considered one of the oldest and most refined waxing and dyeing methods, this technique is a labour of love and painstakingly time-consuming. Each stroke? Hand drawn. Each design? One of a kind.It begins with an artisan, a blank canvas, and bold creativity.
The artisan first sketches beautiful patterns FREEHAND directly onto the cloth then uses a tool called a canting where wax meets fabric, forming elegant outlines that are later filled with vibrant colours. Colour arrives in two ways: Dipping the fabric in dye to achieve uniformity (Celup), or using brushes for a multi-hued masterpiece (Colet).Finally, the wax is melted by boiling the fabric in hot water (Melorot), and voila – a one-of-a-kind batik fabric.
Every piece tells its own story, with designs carefully 'drawn” by hand. No two patterns are ever alike, and the hours of skill, artistry, and love poured into each creation make it a true standout! Worth every bit of its premium price.
Fun Fact!
The canting is tiny, measuring just 0.35cm to 0.50cm in size, demanding exceptional precision, skill and a generous dose of patience Some pieces can take up to a year to complete!
Batik Cap
Pronounced as Chap (C-H-A-P)
Handstamped Batik
The Technique for Perfect Repetition
Out with the hands (sort of), and in with the stamps! Instead of drawing the designs by hand, stamps (Chap) made from wood or metal are used. These bear intricate patterns that are etched into 20 x 20cm blocks and dipped into hot wax nestled in a flat metal pan (Layang) that consists of a folded piece of cloth (which absorbs the wax) – just like a stamp pad.The liquid wax is then pressed onto a piece of fabric on a long, sprawling table. Once it’s stamped out, it takes a dunk in a dye-filled bucket, and another hot plunge where the wax is boiled off and the cloth is hung to dry.
This process supercharges batik production, turning what used to take months into just days or weeks, depending on how detailed the design is. And with modern fashion trends booming, it’s perfect for creating the repeating patterns that today’s style lovers can’t get enough of.
Fun Fact!
The Batik Cap technique drew inspiration from an Indian wood-stamping method. The latter travelled via trade routes to Sumatra before rocking up on Java Island. Traditionally, men were tasked with Batik Cap, but we’re all about inclusivity and would rather dub it an art form that demands muscle to lift and stamp!
Handscreen Batik
The Technique of Artistic Strength
Handscreen batik combines both hand-drawn and hand-stamped techniques, and is a heavyweight process – both figuratively and literally! Think of it as a grand-scale version of silkscreen printing. In Handscreen Batik, a special screen printing tool takes the spotlight. Featuring an oversized frame usually crafted from wood or metal, it houses a stretched fabric screen. The batik design meets a trade secret recipe of cool wax on this screen, setting the stage for the pattern's transfer onto the cloth. A lengthy piece of cloth is rolled out on an equally lengthy table, and picture this: The screen hits the cloth; the dye flows through; the screen lifts – and this repeats till the end of time the cloth. These screens are relatively hefty in size and weigh a fair bit, thus requiring a power duo to carry the load (ha!). The beauty of this technique lies in its direct batik and colouring application, cutting down the production time considerably.
Fun Fact!
While renowned more for its speed, handscreen batik still holds artistic allure. Material choices matter more here, and while cotton reigns for its cosy coolness in tropical climates, handscreen batik can also get glamorous with upscale alternatives like silk and high-quality cotton.
“Batik is a beautiful art form deeply rooted in history and culture, and different individuals might have varying interpretations of what constitutes handmade batik. As long as the native batik communities YeoMama Batik closely collaborates with deem it that — whether it be hand-drawn, handstamped, or handscreened — so do we, in honour of their craftsmanship.”
- Desleen Yeo, Founder of YeoMama Batik
