The Art of Sri Lankan Batik

Originating in Indonesia and introduced to Sri Lanka by the Dutch during colonial times, the batik industry in Sri Lanka has today developed into a unique form of textile art exclusive to the country! 

First thought of as a primary art of fabric dying, Batik has evolved into a vibrant industry of fabric art in Sri Lanka, with an unique art and signature identity, methodology and design. 

In its purest form batik is a method of decorating a piece of cloth by creating a pattern on it with wax and colouring it creating a vibrant mosaic with coloured and uncoloured areas. 

Painstaking and time consuming, Batik was originally a hobby of the elitists in the Kandyan court. The aristocratic ladies of the central kingdom were skilled practitioners of batik and soon the skills of batik were introduced to the artisan classes, who developed tapestry, regional flags and traditional clothes of the aristocrats with batik fabrics. 

Just like in the time it was first introduced to Sri Lanka, batik has become the realm of village based women, who create beautiful designs on clothes with just the dexterity of their hands and pure imagination! 

Three hundred years since its Sri Lankan initiation, batik designs are frequently portrayed in Sri Lankan fashion designs today. 

Woven in silk and cotton, designed by leading fashion houses and produced by local batik makers in Sri Lanka; batik clothes fetch extremely high prices in both local and global markets and are frequently exhibited on many a Parisian runway. 

Aside from clothing, many local interior designers are also maximizing batik's use of vibrant colour to produce unique lamp shades, linen, tapestry and upholstery to attract international attention, and it seems to be working well Under the direction of a group of innovative young designers, Sri Lankan batik designs are being rescued from the clutch of traditional clothing and summer wear and are being moulded into designs worthy of the world's leading catwalks portraying traditional mosaics of Sri Lanka! 

So next time you visit Sri Lanka, be sure to visit one of our renowned Batik Shops… to splurge a little bit and brighten the mood with the wonderful designs and colours of Sri Lankan Batik.

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
http://www.columbustourssrilanka.com/

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au