Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Privacy Policy for silkbatikart.blogspot.com

Privacy Policy for silkbatikart.blogspot.com

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at afendy2010@gmail.com.

At silkbatikart.blogspot.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by silkbatikart.blogspot.com and how it is used.

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What is Batik?

History of Batik:

The word Batik originates from the Javanese word 'tik', which means a dot. It refers to a technique of printing fabric using wax and colourful dyes. Archaeological findings suggest that the application of wax, or even mud on fabrics to resist dye existed far back to the ancient Egypt, but details are vague as to its usage. Some experts feel that it was originally reserved for Javanese royalty on that island, and possibly a pass time of the princess and noble ladies of the time. What is certain, however, is that such an artistic application was widely circulated in the Malay Archipelago, India, Central Asia, and as far as the Middle East, China, even Japan, through trade routes linking these regions.

Finely crafted silk Batik of various motifs was found in these regions, depicting diverse subjects inspired by Hinduism, music and nature. Fast forward to the present, the art and product of Batik has evolved to assume a prominent symbol of Malaysian culture, adorning the likes of national leaders, the cabin crew of Malaysia Airlines, and foreign tourists who sought after it. There are so many types of batik and so many different styles of wearing them. Some examples of how you can use batik sarongs is in a skirt, dress toga, shawl/ scarf, table/ seat/ couch cover, beach blanket, among other things. To tie a silk batik sarong into a dress can be a beautiful choice for evening wear to a party.

Hand Drawn Batik

Batik design can also be drawn by hand resulting on exclusive designs of multicoloured shades. This process is a vast improvement from the traditional block printing process which is restricted to a maximum size of 9 inches square and to a maximum of four colours.

In the hand drawn batik process, molten wax is applied onto the desired designs which are drawn on the material by using a "jhunting" (a copper instrument with a container for holding the liquid wax to flow out). Colours are then applied individually by a brush on the required design including the background colour.
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Batik Fabric Production - The Old Is New Again

Introduction If you are passionate about textiles with exotic color and texture the chances are good you have a special love for batiks. It's easy to be captivated by these stunning color-saturated marvels. While there always seems to be a place in a batik lover's stash for a new "Bali" few of us know much about the fascinating, time-honored processes that are used to make our batik fabrics. In order to discover where the batiks in our local fabric store come from, let's take a virtual trip into an Indonesian batik factory.
Batik making is an ancient art for embellishing cloth through the use of wax, (or other media that creates resist), and dyes. While batik fabric is produced in India, China, Thailand and in several African nations, it is most renowned in Indonesia and Malaysia. In these areas there are two basic processes used to produce batik fabric; Batik Tulis (hand drawn batik) and Batik Cap (stamped batik). This article will focus on the production of stamped batik.
Stamping Stamping, involves the application of molten wax to cloth with the use of a metal or wooden stamp called a cap, (Pronounced Chap). The cap is a cookie cutter-like devise that is created in the image of the batik motif that it intends to produce. The stamping process begins with the preparation of the cloth.
Cloth Preparation and Application of Base Colors Raw fabric must first be prepared before it can undergo batik production. The prep involves the removal of impurities and starch. Often this is done by bleaching the fabric before it arrives at the batik factory. If the base cloth is heavily starched it may be washed to improve the penetration of the dye to those parts of the cloth left un-waxed. After fabric prep it's often necessary to apply base colors to the fabric before the wax is applied. The base colors fill the surface area inside of the motif positions that are eventually shaped by the wax resist. In situations when the base color must be applied the fabric is often placed on the factory floor.
The Application of wax After the base colors have been applied to the prepped fabric, it's time to apply the wax. Usually the fabric is draped over a padded table which provides the necessary give to the pressure of the stamp. Before it is melted, the wax is in the form of blocks. The wax blocks are placed in an open pan called a Wajan that sits on top of a small barbecue-like stove. The wax is applied to the fabric after it is melted to the right consistency. The batik artisan dips the stamp into the pan until its surface is covered with molten wax and applies the stamp to the cloth. The artisan must carefully dovetail the wax impression into the ones that have already been created to avoid unsightly gaps in the repeat of the motif.
Dyeing After the wax has been applied, the cloth is ready to be over-dyed. The dyes are color matched by staff members and than applied in large cement baths. Areas covered by wax will resist the dyes and will create the shapes of the desired motifs. The dyeing process is repeated several times depending upon the colors and complexity of the design. Occasionally a final application of black or other dark color is made to emphasize the design elements of the pattern.
Removal of the Wax After the cloth has been rinsed and dried, the wax is removed entirely by dipping in hot water. The wax is often saved and re-used. The cloth is then washed with a mild detergent, rinsed to remove excess dye and hung in the sun to dry. Creases may be removed by an electric press. The fabric is later rolled on tubes and packed for export.
New Frontiers While Indonesian batik-making has been ongoing for centuries it is undergoing a period of dynamic change owing to the needs and creativities of home sewing enthusiasts around the world. Old batik techniques are given new applications and new base fabrics expand the potential uses of batik. Western fabric companies now offer 108"-wide batik backing, batik flannel, silk batik and many new thematic groups of stamped batiks and hand-dyed batik. All-inall it's an exciting time of renewal for this ancient fabric making process.
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Batik Prints

Batik has its origins in medieval Egypt but have currently seen Asian countries as its key manufacturing centers. Within Indonesia, only members of the royal family utilized Batik art work in the old days since they presumed the styles had distinctive significance for their wearers. Despite the fact that the craft originated form Egypt, it has traveled on to other regions of the globe such as Asia and Africa. This has provided each specific batik piece with a unique and distinctive pattern or design as each region draws heavily on local religion and culture.

Batik prints are not just used in various types of clothing such as shirts, scarves and dresses but it is also used for furniture, pictures along with wall hangings. Batik is usually a incredibly labor demanding procedure that produces gorgeous and distinctive patterns on permeable materials such as cotton as well as silk. At the start, cloth, normally white or cream in color is cleaned in boiling water to remove all traces of many other materials such as starch before the procedure commences.

The preferred pattern is traced on the chosen material while areas of the material that are not be colored are lightly brushed with paraffin (melted) and also wax (Beeswax etc) to avoid them becoming blemished. This is done using an ordinary brush or sometimes, a traditional canting pen. The temperature of the wax is controlled at a specific temperature all the way through.

Once the wax cools and hardens eventually, the dyeing procedure may then begin. This is done by putting the textile in the dye, with lighter color used initially before moving on to darker ones. If immersed for extended periods of time, the resulting color is intensified. The process carries on right until the specific color and desired intensity is achieved. Once this is done, the wax must be removed somehow. This can be done by using a hot iron.
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Tips For Working With Batik Fabrics

Batik is an Indonesian-Malay word that refers to traditional wax-resist dye method used on cloth. Batik is a traditional fashionable apparel worn across the world. With a huge variety of Batik designs and patterns, it is often loved and worn by people all over the globe especially in Malaysia. Batik depicts the ancient Javanese art and tradition and has become the most desirable pattern in the urban market too. You will find a great range in the men and the women clothing. Batik apparels are evergreen and suit all the genres at any occasion.

The quality of Batik differs in the quality of cloth used. Batik silk are the highly used in parties or formal functions that can be accessorized with Batik sandals, Batik silk handbags or purses, Batik silk scarves etc. Batik designs on cotton have set a new drive among the general public. There is a huge range of designs and colors available in cotton fabric have become highly popular. Cotton Batik is generally used for casual or daily wear in almost all the parts of the world. You are not only amazed to see a huge collection of Batik prints and designs in variable colors but you can also see a number of accessories that complement the apparel. Cotton or silk scarves, sarongs, kurtis, ladies tops, Batik handbags, Batik Kebaya, Batik pants, sleep dresses etc. are widely used by a lot of customers.

The modern and the fashionable industry has readily accepted the traditional designs and patterns of Batik and has manufactured a variety of sarongs, scarves, jackets, dresses and accessories to satisfy the new generation. Batik dresses are worn for many occasions like:

1. Informal dresses are worn as daily wear casual dresses and are available in a wide variety.

2. Formal Occasions like parties, banquets, receptions, formal gatherings etc. where the guests are requested to wear Batik. Full sleeves Batik shirt for men and 'kain batik', a long batik to wrap the whole body is a formal dress worn by women.

3. Traditional occasions like wedding ceremonies, or special ceremonies in royal families where the bride and the bridegroom wear similar Batik motif called Sidomukti, meaning happiness and prosperity throughout their lives. Same Batik motif represents togetherness. Batik with Truntum is worn by parents of the bride and the bridegroom and represents their guidance to the new couple who enter the new life together.

4. Traditional dresses are worn by women in Yogya and Solo court families and consists Jarit or Tapih or Singanj is a long Batik covering the whole body with a stagen, a low waist band, Kebaya is a full sleeves shirt made of silk, Selendang is a beautiful piece of cloth that truly complements the traditional batik attire, lastly the Kemben or Semekan worn for special ceremonies in palaces or ceremonies in royal families where Kemben is worn instead of Kebaya.

5. The Traditional dress of men include Jarit or Bebed is men kain panjang fastened with stagen, Surjan which is a long sleeved shirt without the batik fabric, Beskap is worn instead of Surjan and the fabric is not Batik, Blangkon is a headgear made from Batik and lastly Keris is a dagger that is worn on the backside of the waist, acts as a compliment to the traditional dress. Dodot is a traditional dress worn by the king himself that covers the lower body.

With such a huge collection of traditional Batik dresses which depict the tradition of the past is indeed a pleasure to experience.
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Batik Industry Embraces Modernization

No trip to Malaysia is complete without a visit to the Batik Factories and breaking your head over what to buy from the resplendent array of batik work products. Batik is an art practiced in many countries in Asia where wax is used to draw a design on cloth; the fabric is dyed in various bright colors that are not absorbed by the wax filled designs alone. Later this wax is removed using a solvent or by ironing it out. But this is not all! There's much more to this art that makes it a national art of Malaysia. Batik has a timeless appeal; Batik Sarongs were a much loved attire of Malays and people from various other parts of the world and even now, Batik has a magnetic presence that draws tourists and locals to its hold.

Modern day Batik is all about innovation! It moves out of the traditional Batik printing methods to experiment on various surfaces such as silk, cotton, wool, leather, paper and even wood. The products made out of these innovations are also varied and not just restricted to apparel. Charming ethnic accessories are created using these new techniques that have a high demand from locals and tourists alike. Modern styles of batik are also more of a mix of various art forms such as painting, etching, blocks, use of stencils and various other tools for discharge of wax. This has resulted in a breakout from the traditional block designs to a more diverse range of prints.

The Batik industry is Malaysia has been given a further impetus to experiment with new trends by the Malaysian Government in its effort to promote Batik as a national art form. When tradition and innovation blend together, the result is astounding and that's the case with batik too. Now, you can find batik featuring in fashion shows and on the shelves of most high end designer wear outlets. All state functions give important to batik; important dignitaries and foreign visitors wear batik to respect the tradition of the country.

The latest Batik news is its adaptability to various different materials that make it a wonderful tool for creativity. The past few years have seen a revolution in use of batiks in apparel, accessories, furniture covers, stationary, footwear and lots of other consumer products. A lot of artists have become famous because of their involvement in this thriving batik industry. There are now online classes for batik making techniques and tips on working with batik. Check out batik blogs to see the latest designs in batik and to learn how innovatively this art is used

Two technique of batik are practiced in Malaysia, the hand crafted Batik and block-printed batik. In spite of technological improvements in Batik work, hand-drawn Batik retains its share of market and is valued for its exquisiteness. Handcrafted Batik products are more expensive than block printed products because of the time and effort spent in making each piece. But the resulting product is well worth the cost. So next time you visit Malaysia, make sure you have plenty of space in your luggage to bring back wonderful batik souvenirs to cherish.
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Batik Making Process

Batik is a traditional process that uses wax-resist technique in its making. Wax resist methods prevents the dye from spreading to the entire cloth, ultimately creating beautiful batik designs and patterns. The cloth used for Batik can either be cotton or silk as it can quickly absorb the wax used in dye resisting procedure. The fabric must be densely woven and should be of high quality so that the intricate patterns are reflected in the Batik quality designs.

The cloth used for Batik is initially washed and boiled in plain water for a number of times before the wax is applied. It is done so to remove all the traces of starch, lime, chalk or other chemicals are completed washed away from the cloth. The traditional method of creating Batik was that the cloth was crushed with wooden mallet or ironed so that it becomes smooth and flexible and this helped to make best designs and Batik patterns. But now, the machine made cloth is smooth and supple enough to omit the pounding or the ironing process. Generally this system was adopted in the Batik making process.

The best quality of cloth used to make Batik designs include Primissima and Prima, and the quality of the cloth is also mentioned on the edge of the pattern. Blaco is often used for Batik which is a lesser quality cloth.

Design equipments

Though Batik designs and patterns may be intricate, but the Batik design tools are quite simple. Canting, the wax pen is a pure Javanese invention, is a thin walled small copper container with a spout having a short handle made of bamboo. Its length is about 11 cm and is filled with melted wax and with the help of canting artisans creates beautiful designs on the cloth. The spouts are of various sizes which help to create different design effects. For a fine and detailed art, a spout with diameter 1mm is used and to fill in the larger designs wider spouts are used. A canting with 9 spouts is used to draw dots or parallel lines. A clump of cotton is tied over the mouth of the canting or may attach it to a stick and this acts as a brush to fill up very large sections.

Once a pattern or a design is drawn on the cloth, it is ready to be waxed. To maintain the original color (white or cream) of the cloth, the artisans apply wax with the help of the canting. The fabric is wrapped over bamboo frames for the wax to cool which later on becomes hard. The wax is melted to attain the desired consistency in the wajan in which the artisan dip the chanting and fill it with melted wax. For a well defined batik, wax is applied on both sides of the fabric.

After the application of the wax, the fabric needs to be dyed for the first time. Initially, earthenware tubs were used for dying but now large concrete vats are used. The fabric is draped on the ropes with pulleys and immersed in a dye tub. For a darker color the cloth must remain in the dye for a longer period after which it is put in cold water to make the wax harder. After the cloth is dyed properly for the first time, the artisans apply wax to the areas where the first dye color is to be maintained. Now the area that was waxed initially needs to be cleaned by removing the wax with a small knife, dabbed with hot water and then resized, so that it can be dyed in similar manner with a subsequent dye tub. You can even give a marble effect by cracking the wax so that the dye enters into the cracks before it is put for dye bath.

Lastly, you need to wash the traditionally dyed Batiks with soap and water or lerak fruit which is available in traditional markets. Always dry the Batiks in shade and not under direct sunlight.
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