Origin & History:
The word “batik” comes from the Javanese term ‘ambatik’, meaning “to write with wax.” It is a centuries-old textile art that originated in Java, Indonesia, and spread across India, Sri Lanka, China, Egypt, and Africa. In India, Batik gained popularity through Shantiniketan (West Bengal) in the early 20th century under the influence of Rabindranath Tagore’s Kala Bhavan.
Artisan Communities: Practiced by artisans in Shantiniketan, Bengal; Bhuj and Mandvi, Gujarat; and Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Geographic Spread: West Bengal (Shantiniketan), Gujarat (Kutch, Bhuj), Madhya Pradesh (Ujjain), Rajasthan (Jaipur for fusion block-batik).
Technique & Process:
1. Wax Application: Molten wax applied using a kalam (stylus) or brush for freehand patterns, or blocks for repeat motifs
2. Dyeing: Waxed fabric is dipped in dye; wax resists dye and preserves the base color. Multicolored Batik involves repeating waxing and dyeing multiple times.
3. Wax Removal: Fabric is boiled or ironed between papers to remove wax, revealing final pattern
4. Final Finishing: Washed and sun-dried.
Materials & Motifs:
· Fabric: Cotton, silk, crepe, tussar, viscose
· Dyes: Naphthol dyes, reactive dyes, and increasingly natural dyes.
· Motifs: Floral vines, birds, tribal scenes, celestial bodies, dots and abstract patterns.
Notable Brands & Use:
Byloom, Fabindia, and Sasha promote Batik stoles, sarees.Contemporary designers like Ritu Kumar and Bindu Rawal have revived Batik in modern silhouettes.