Description
A message from Muntigunung batik village…
Our Production
We take great care in selecting the finest natural raw materials to create each unique piece of batik. A high-quality piece of Batik is characterized not only by its design and the art of applying the wax but also the quality of coloring. For this reason, we put a strong emphasis on the development of beautiful and colorfast natural dyes.
After sketching the pattern onto the fabric, melted wax is manually applied with a canting. This process requires a steady hand and fine skills with each scarf taking up to 6 days to complete. Once the wax is applied, the fabric is gently dyed in natural dyes such as Indigo, Jalawe or Mahagoni. Interesting fact: Indigo only develops its color after being exposed to the air.
Our batik production was initiated in 2016 by training community members in the traditional Indonesian art of “Batik Tulis” (hand drawn batik). Our goal is not only to produce beautiful pieces of batik, but to create employment opportunities within the community and help parents be role models to their growing children by earning a dignified income rather than begging. Our social enterprise is part of Muntigunung’s holistic development program.
With the purchase of each handcrafted batik piece you are making a valuable contribution to sustainably improve the livelihoods of families in Muntigunung.
Batik Natural process
Beautiful soft tones, as well as strong and vibrant colours, are produced using only natural dyes. The process to produce strong colours that last is often a long one. It takes generations of local knowledge which is being lost with the popularity of chemical dyes.
The blue is made from indigo which is grown and harvested locally. It is first soaked in water mixed with lime powder. The lime reacts with the leaf and turns the water blue. It is them fermented for weeks to ensure the colour is strong and will remain in the cloth.
Red, yellow, brown, green and black are produced with various roots and leaves, sometimes mixed together for varying colour tones.
Click here to see batik being made