Friday's Why In Design: The ancient art of Batik and where to find the best examples of the designs in today's interior design market
commonly seen in high end fabric collections today,
but what is it?
Batik (/ˈbætɪk/ or /bəˈtiːk/; Javanese pronunciation: [ˈbateʔ];Indonesian: [ˈbatɪk]) is a cloth that is traditionally made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique.
Wikipedia--
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| China Seas fabric |
THE HISTORY of BATIK
Derived from the Javanese word “tritik” which means tying and sewing parts of the textile before dying, or “Ambatik” which means cloth with little dots, Batik can be traced back to the early Egyptian tombs, and then throughout the Middle East. The fabric design was seen in the 17th Century in Holland and other European countries, however, it didn’t become popular until the 19th Century when the tribesmen of small villages in Malaysia and Indonesia perfected this art form as a way to create textiles for families to differentiate social standing and geographic regions. It became a way to distinguish a family’s social status, depending upon which pattern and styles were chosen. It is important to note that in Indonesia specific patterns were intended to be worn only by nobility, like the wider stripes and wavy deep lines. Traditional colors include indigo, dark brown, and white representing the three major Hindu Gods -- Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. This was devised so that during traditional Javanese ceremonies, it was clear who was royalty and who was not. By the early 1900s Batik fabric was fashionable in Germany and other parts of Europe, and eventually it came to the States where it continues to hold timeless appeal in our fashion and interior design.
Derived from the Javanese word “tritik” which means tying and sewing parts of the textile before dying, or “Ambatik” which means cloth with little dots, Batik can be traced back to the early Egyptian tombs, and then throughout the Middle East. The fabric design was seen in the 17th Century in Holland and other European countries, however, it didn’t become popular until the 19th Century when the tribesmen of small villages in Malaysia and Indonesia perfected this art form as a way to create textiles for families to differentiate social standing and geographic regions. It became a way to distinguish a family’s social status, depending upon which pattern and styles were chosen. It is important to note that in Indonesia specific patterns were intended to be worn only by nobility, like the wider stripes and wavy deep lines. Traditional colors include indigo, dark brown, and white representing the three major Hindu Gods -- Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. This was devised so that during traditional Javanese ceremonies, it was clear who was royalty and who was not. By the early 1900s Batik fabric was fashionable in Germany and other parts of Europe, and eventually it came to the States where it continues to hold timeless appeal in our fashion and interior design.
WHAT IS IT?
It is a technique of waxing and dyeing fabric onto cotton cloth with colorfast fabrics. Although it is similar to a tie dye technique it is a more complicated process. It is often hand drawn. A finer process of Batik called tulis batiks is when the artist uses their hands and a canting tool to create the design. Canting is a small pen like copper cup with a well for wax. First, the artist melts Beeswax in a metal flamed pot set underneath the canting tool then draws a design onto the cotton. The fabric is secured onto a frame and the wax melts with the artist dripping then applying the wax to the cloth to outline the pencil drawing. Once complete the first color dye is poured on. A second coat of wax is applied and working from lighter colors to dark colors the color layering is created. Next, the cotton is placed in boiling water to melt the wax off and once the wax is off the original color of the fabric creates the designs contrasted against the added colors as a background. The precision of the process and using the wax makes the design permanent and often there are small imperfections, but I like this finished aesthetic which gives off a bohemian, beach-like feel, perfect for a summer cottage or a relaxed sophisticated environment. Often in today's fabrics named Batik some are printed to look like the originally handmade version.
See a sampling of my favorite Batik-style fabrics...
Kathryn Ireland's stunning designs
are fresh and modern feeling.
we see an eclectic array of his exotic fabrics, Batiks included and from all over the world.
"This beautiful work gives an up-close look at the intricacies of batik designs. John Robshaw began working with wax stamps in Yogyakarta, in Indonesia, and his designs are inspired by the local myths and volcanoes of the region."
~~One Kings Lane
~~One Kings Lane
Quadrille fabrics has been one of the leaders in keeping Batik popular in today's design industry.
I love the use of Batik in the living room of this project -- and the blue and orange color combination works well against all the wood.
another beautiful room, and the blue and orange story continues (Quadrille fabric Batik on chair and pillows)
from this Maine project.
And, last, but certainly not least let me show you a brand new Batik-inspired fabric collection on the design horizon...
these textiles have a softness and unusual quality, but with the familiarity of Batik, they feel fresh and new with a nod to history.
Please stop back on Monday for the "inside scoop" on Bunny and Annie's fabulous indoor/outdoor rug collection!
XO Tamara
sources:
my Pinterest Batik Board for more photos and sources
