Handcrafted goodies will never be the easiest ones to make, but all the effort and time put into them is always time well spent! Here we discuss ikat and batik design techniques to make the perfect pieces.
The evidence for this can be showcased with two conventional Indonesian dyeing techniques:
Ikat and Batik.
Ikat can be admired on the magnificent clutches by the artisans of UNICEF Market, and is a style that was perfected by the artisans of Ibumalu. Ikat is a sophisticated dyeing technique which is utilized to create designs on pieces of cloth. Essentially, you need to prevent the dye from permeating all the way through the material. In ikat, binding packages of threads are threaded together in the desired pattern to complete the piece. The filaments are then stained and the bindings are removed.
The threads are then woven by one person, to form a fabric. The craftwork is made by local Indonesian weavers, and all pieces are authentic artwork, woven thread by thread. It can take a month of peoples time to complete. The artisans are known for their sophisticated dyeing procedure.
For every different color shade this procedure is replicated until the perfect color is achieved. Subsequently the threads are woven into fabrics. The result: a fabric with a soul. Ikat isn’t to be mistaken with another conventional Indonesian dyeing technique, called batik. In batik, wax can be used to draw on the desired design on fabric. By soaking the material in one color dyes, the threads are bonded to the wax that is applied and thus enables the artisan to color selectively. The wax is removed with boiling water, and the process can be repeated, if multiple colors are wanted. UNICEF Market has many artisans that are using batik to create artwork and stunning materials. Both batik and ikat are extremely complicated procedures that need lots of dexterity by the artisans. We agree with the artisans statement – when you use ikat or batik – you create work with a soul.
To check out our bags that use batik, then click here.
