First Process

The making of artisan batik starts with spreading wet fabric on a mat and pinched manually. Base color is applied using sponge, it could be one color, two or multicolor, as per buyer’s order. Then, let it dry under the sun, and soda ash is sprinkled to give the effect of color breaking.

Next step is to soak it in water glass to lock the color, so that the base color won’t fade, then wash it with running water until clean and hang it dry.

Batik fabric with base color is now ready for the next process, i.e. to stamp it with the desired motifs. After that, it will enter color fastness process, which is to remove the color, but the part covered by wax stamp will not lose.

Next, wash it thoroughly until the remaining material from the fading process is gone.

Second Process

The second process is as the same step as the first process.

When the coloring process complete, it washed again to shed the remaining water glass, then continue with the slitting process. Slitting process is to remove wax by boiling it. The base color covered by the wax will form motifs on the batik fabric, according to the stamp. Then, rinse it under running water until the wax residue is gone, and lastly, dry it in the sun.

Depends on the sunshine, the result color will vary. If the sun is strong, the color will come out brighter. If the sun is dim or cloudy, the color will be a little softer or greyish.

From Craftsmanship to Creation

Is what transform the beauty and uniqueness of artisan batik that no machine can do.

International market calls it “Artisan Batik” or “Bali Batik”, but locals call it “Smoked Batik” or “Stamped Batik”. Sometimes people also call it double-process batik, because the process repeated twice.