BATIK is an ancient art of textile designing that probably derives its name from the Indonesian-Malay term ambatik meaning ‘a cloth with little dots’.
First, a design is traced onto a white cotton or silk cloth. Parts of the design that will remain white are covered with a combination of beeswax and paraffin wax. The cloth is then dipped in a dye solution. The longer the time it is immersed, the darker the colour. The procedure is repeated many times. The wax is then washed out of the cloth.
In India, batik textiles are mainly produced in Shantiniketan in West Bengal and Cholamandalam in Tamil Nadu. Indonesia is the world’s biggest centre for batik.