Adorning oneself with bright, vibrant and unique clothing and accessories could give that much-needed ego boost and self confidence, and Sri Lankan batik is just the thing for the task! Batik industry in Sri Lanka is one of the main export areas that brings the country its revenues, and over the years, it has come to be a much sought after luxury product by tourists and locals alike.
The History of Batik in Sri Lanka:
Although Sri Lankan batik has gained popularity all over the globe, it is Indonesia that takes credit for having set the foundation for the industry. Over the past century, however, Sri Lanka has modernized the classic style of the original batik and has managed to come up with new designs and textures. Batiks incorporate many motifs and colors, some traditional and others highly contemporary. Many display a vigorousness of design related to their origin.
Batik was once an art form practiced only by the elite Kandyan court, and used strictly to design flags and tapestries for royalty and aristocrats. It only rose to fame as a more accessible product for the general public in the 1970s. In a closed economy, batik gave Sri Lanka hope by adding color to people’s lives. Batik sarees, skirts, and wraparounds were some of the most admired styles from back in the day. The unique art of creating batik, has only grown in its immense popularity since then, in the forms of distinctive dresses, shirts, sarongs and beachwear well-suited for tropical areas, as well as expanding into table clothes, bedsheets and accessories.
How is Batik Made?
Originating from the combination of Javanese words “amba” (to write) and “titik” (dot), batik refers to a special technique of wax-resist dyeing. These unique prints are created through a variety of tools, where the applied wax resists the dyes, allowing designers and craftsmen to apply selected colours onto fabric.
Sri Lankan batik portrays stories from mythology, scenes of nature, and culture, as the artists carefully draw them by hand using hot wax on the material. The final product is a result of a three-step process: chemical process to help it dry, a salt bath to retain the colour and and thirdly the drying process where the material is left in the sun to dry naturally before it is ironed or put in hot water so that the wax would be removed. It is a painstaking process that takes a lot of time, patience, skill and creativity.
Batik Industry in Sri Lanka:
What started off as a hobby for the elites in Kandy, Batik has been kept alive for decades since then by the National Crafts Council, Institute of Textiles and Apparels, Sri Lanka Handcrafts Board, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, designers, and last but not least, the small-scale family run batik houses that put in endless tiresome hours into creating the perfect product. The batik industry has thrived for so long because of the women who create unbelievable art, day after day. In 2020, the batik industry was given an elevated status as it was brought under a separate ministry, which goes to show how pivotal this industry has become to the growth of the economy.
Where to Buy Batik from:
Batik is main source of textile income that Sri Lanka receives, as exports and as local goods sold all around the island. It caters to a niche market as authentic batik products tend to be on the pricier side. It is extremely popular among tourists, especially because it is a trademark of Sri Lanka and all her cultural glory. If you are looking for designer batik clothing, you could shop at Buddhi Batiks which was the pioneer of modern day’s Batik, and specializes in high-end silk products. You could also shop at souvenir shops in Colombo or Kandy to find batik goods of all kinds. A trip to the coastal regions will give you a chance to purchase batik made by local women. Always be generous with the tips when you shop at small-scale shops as this might be their only income.
Batik may cost a little more than other products you end up buying in Sri Lanka, but when you add in the level of expertise, tedious hours, and patience that go into it, you would know that it was worth every rupee.
Photos sourced by Sarvodaya Shramdana Movement, Amila Tennakoon
