The process behind a beauty

every kain batik tulis is unique and may vary in colour, shapes and forms as the love are hand made by the unique artists and craftsman'

Batik Tulis, a handcraft that have a high artistic value with a fairly complicated manufacturing process which could take more than a month to finish. when it comes to great art it needs a great creativity, sincere hearts and a patience quotes a batik craftmen at Kampung Batik Giriloyo, Yogyakarta.

“Memakan waktu yang lama dan sing penting sabar ya, karena butuh ketelitian dan hati yang senang dan tenang dalam mem-batik. Biar hasil dari batiknya juga apik." -Ibu Umi Anisah Fauziah, Batik Craftsmen

Before making batik, of course we will need equipment and materials. Here are some of the things you have to prepare and to know in order for making batik.

1. Kain Mori / Sutra / Katun: Made from cotton or silk

2. Tjanting / Canting: made from copper and bamboo for overlining the penciled-in outline of the pattern on to the kain.

3. Malam Wax: a wax made from bee or animal wax and resin for covering the pattern

4. Hot Stove and Pot: The pan is used for wax containers when thawed, while the stove serves to heat the wax so that it forms into a liquid.

5. Indigo / Natural Dyes: for dye-ing the kain batik after being covered up with malam

The Steps

1. Nyorek, the pattern making with pencil: first of all after choosing the kain batik that you want to use, grab a pencil and make your own batik motifs. you can choose multiple and combinee motifs and just be creative. for example combining the kawung motif and truntum motif.

2. put the 'malam' on to the pot and let the malam melts into liquid form

3. grab the canting and grab the handle in the edge

4. drain by tilting the canting to prevent them dripping on to the cloth

5. Nglowong, start to draw on the cloth with canting as out-line the pattern you have made with the pencil

6. Isen-isen and Nembok: Filling motifs and second waxing parts to remain white

7. Medel: first coloring with Indigo dyes or any natural dyes

8. Ngebyok: Wax / malam removing in boiling water

9. Mbironi & Nembok: Re-waxing parts to remain dark blue & cover parts to remain white

10. Nyoga: Second coloring by dipping in soga brown for deeper and darker browns

11. Nglorod: Removing all the wax in boiling water

you can try makin batik at home or visit Museum Tekstil in Jakarta or you can go to Kampung Batik Giriloyo in Yogyakarta for their workshop and deeper knowledge about the process and the philosophy of Kain Batik Tulis.

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Museum Tekstil, Jakarta

Jl. Ks. Tubun No.2-4, RT.4/RW.2, Kota Bambu Sel., Palmerah, Kota Jakarta Barat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 11420

Kampung Batik Giriloyo, Yogyakarta

Gazebo Wisata Giriloyo, Jl. Imogiri Tim. No.Km. 14, Karang Kulon, Wukirsari, Imogiri, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55782