Ethnic Batik salwar kameez for cool summer

Batik is a resist making design on the cloth that is traditionally made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Javanese traditional batik, especially from Yogyakarta and Surakarta, has notable meaning rooted to the Javanese conceptualization of the universe. Traditional colours include indigo, dark brown, and white which represent the three major Hindu Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva). This is related to the fact that natural dyes are most commonly available in indigo and brown. Certain patterns can only be worn nobility, traditionally, wider stripes or wavy lines of greater width indicated higher rank. Consequently during Javanese ceremonies, one could determine the royal lineage of a person by the cloth he or she was wearing.

Other regions of Indonsia have their own unique patterns that normally take themes from everyday lives, incorporating patterns such as flowers, nature, animals, folklore or people. The colours of pesisir batik, from the coastal cities of northern Java, is especially vibrant, and it absorbs influence from the Javanese, Arab, Chinese and Dutch cultures. In the colonial times pesisir batik was a favourite of the Peranakan Chinese, Dutch and Eurasians.

Wax resist dyeing technique in fabric is an ancient art form. Discoveries show it already existed in Egypt in the 4th century BC, where it was used to warp mummies, linen was soaked in wax and scratched using a sharp tool. In Asia, the technique was practiced in china during the T’ang dynasty (618-907AD) and in India and Japan during the Nara period (645-794 AD).

In java, Indonesia, batik predates written records. G.P. Rouffaer argues that the technique might have been introduced during the 6th or 7th century from India or Sri Lanka. On the other hand, JLA. Brandes (a Dutch archeologist) and F.A. Sutjiipto (an Indonesian archeologist) believe Indonesian batik is a native tradition, regions such as Toraja,Flores, Halmahera and Papua, which were not directly influenced by Hinduism and have an old age tradition of batik making.

In one form or another, batik has worldwide popularity.Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in (particularly) Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, china, Azerbaijan, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Singapore. Now, not only is batik used as a material to cloth, the human body, its uses also include furnishing fabrics, heavy canvas wall hangings, tablecloths and household accessories. Batik technique are used by famous artists to create batik paintings, which grace many homes and offices.

The yellow and black batik printed pure soft cotton salwar kameez has dark and light brown vertical strips with cream coloured abstract ikkat prints on the kameez. The salwar is a neat contrast in black. The soft cotton ikkat printed chunni in brown is a good match. This alluring salwar kameez outfit would be a mesmerizer at parties, functions, social events.

The batik printed salwar kameez are available in a wide range of colours and hues on account of their acceptability of most dyes. The body of the salwar has tie method designs. With attractive designs and accompaniments in vivid colour combinations, batik printed salwar kameez the assumes the level of a refreshing style statement.

Prachi.L She is a freelancer long associated with ethnic fabrics, known for her special leaning towards ethnic sarees. She enjoys the privilege of being a part-time consultant to Unnati Silks. S.E-mail her at unnatikaro@gmail.com.