A thousand year old technique for the modern day, designers such as Gilda Midani have found a place to incorporate this textile dyeing process into their lines. Capable of producing bold blocks of color that reveal a hint of the handmade aesthetic, Gilda leans on Batik as one of her tools in creating her whimsically inspired designs.
Dating back to at least the 12th century, the art of Batik has enjoyed a long-lasting tradition and appreciation throughout generations.
Originating on the island of Java in Indonesia, the coloring technique is rooted in the country’s extensive history of textile design.
Batik takes place during the dyeing process. It refers to the application of hot wax to the surface of a fabric to facilitate the creation of dyed and undyed sections in a garment or textile.
After dyeing, the wax is then removed through a boiling process, revealing the areas of the fabric’s original color that were protected by the wax.
Being a flexible process, this technique can be used on several materials including cotton, silk, linen and rayon.
Traditionally, Batik was used in Indonesia as a way to express ideas and spiritual beliefs through the designs imbued into the textiles.
Gilda Midani, a designer inspired by the artforms embedded in folk cultures and their histories, utilizes Batik as one of many methods to color their hand-made garments.
The handmade character seen in Batik fits perfectly into Midani’s playful design sensibilities, lending the crinkled fabric and unique, imperfect dyeing inherent in the technique to her fabrics.
