Over the past several decades the Indonesian art of batik
making has become firmly established in Sri Lanka. Indeed, it is now the most
visible of the island’s crafts. Galleries and factories, large and small, have
sprung up in many tourist areas. For instance, rows of small stalls selling
batiks can be found all along Hikkaduwa’s Galle Road strip. Mahawewa, on the
other hand, is famous for its Sri Lankan Batik factories.
Batiks incorporate fascinating motifs and colours, some
traditional others highly contemporary and individual, but they all display a
vigorousness of design unique to the island. The material created by the
batik-makers is used to produce distinctive dresses, shirts, sarongs and
beachwear ideal for tropical climes. Many tourists at seaside resorts such as
Hikkaduwa; wear batik clothes throughout their holiday. Apart from clothes; Handmade
Batiks, Table Clothes, Wall Pictures, Beach Clothes, Pure Cotton & Silk,
Mens & Ladies Wears, Bed Covers are popular as a reminder of a visit to SriLanka.
The process by which batik is produced consists of the
multiple waxing and dyeing of cloth. First, the desired pattern is drawn on a
plain piece of material. Molten wax is then applied to those areas of the cloth
that are not to be dyed. Next, the material is immersed in the required dye and
washed when the colour has set. If more colours are desired, the process of
waxing and dyeing has to be repeated. Originally, when batik making was a
cottage industry, one artist created the entire batik from start to finish.t to
finish.
