Batik Malaysia

Batik is a resist process employing wax and dye. The block method uses copper or zinc blocks dipped in melted wax and stampled onto two meter lengths of cotton.The cloth is repeatedly dyed and stamped until the finishing step when the wax is boiled out of the cloth.

Batikers have an identifiable style... usually. These thumbnails represent some of the finest-quality batikers in the Kuala Terengganu area (note: subsequent images are large files, necessary to show detail of scanned cloth)		Sarong diagram
W A N A Z H A R	H A J I W A N I S M A I L	H A Z W A N I
Wan Azhar is a highly repected batiker in the village of Sebarang Takir. His elegant designs are noted for their clarity and cool, crisp colors.	Haji Wan Ismail, a well-known producer of traditional--in style and in method--batik, is at the forefront of the silk-screen transformation. (These examples are hand-stamped.)	Hazwani is a factory in Hileran named after the owner's daughter. It produces batik with a bright, contemporary look which appeals to tourists.
S. Z. A. B. A. R.	K R A F T A N G A N	"W H O I S K N O W ?"
S.Z.A.B.A.R. was a batiker in Masjid Tok Ku whose designs were outstanding, whose colors were wonderfully balanced, and whose execution rivalled Wan Azhar. This factory closed in 2001 due to the economic downturn... a great and irreparable loss.	The Kraftangan are government-supported schools whose curricula include block making, batik,... and silk-screen bati

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T H E P R O C E S S


T H E B L O C K M A K E R S

the market

The best place to buy sarongs --best in terms of variety, selection, and price-- is the markets in K.T.

Folded and stacked so that only a slice of the sarong is visible, it takes a careful eye to discern the color and pattern.

The all-over pattern of batik cloth does not have a border or kepala (head).