What is batik?

What is batik?

Batik is a centuries old method of dyeing cloth.  The wax in the dyeing process prevents the dyes from penetrating the fabric, ensuring adjacent dyes do not bleed into each other and also creates the 'white lines' characteristic of the batik process.

Parrot Addict has married this art-form with innovative and elegant designs based on the beauty of parrots.

What is the batik process we use?

FOR OUR CLOTHING:  The fabric we use is either 100% cotton or 100% first quality rayon.

First, the design is drawn on the fabric with pencil and then the fabric is secured onto a frame.

Hot, melted wax is then poured into a special pen, called a canting. Using the canting, the liquid wax is drawn over the pencil lines.

After the wax has hardened, the colors (dyes) are painted onto the fabric by hand. Depending on the design, the fabric may go through a second painting stage to apply fine details. The painted fabric is then hung to dry and set.

Next, the fabric is placed in a boiling water bath. This melts the wax and shrinks the fabric. The fabric is then placed in the sun to dry.

It is only after all these steps are completed that the fabric is ready for cutting and sewing.

You can expect small design/color variations from garment to garment due to the hand-painting process. 

 Two-stage painting process

How is this process different from your home decor products?

Our other batik products are all hand-painted, however, the main difference is that many of our clothing designs go through two stages of hand-painting whereas the home decor products only go through one stage. 

In October 2009, UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. We are proud to help preserve and promote this unique cultural heritage.