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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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