"Batik" is both a word and a craft. Here is what it means, where the word likely comes from and what to ignore.
The Short Definition
Batik is a method of decorating cloth by applying wax to parts of the fabric, dyeing it and removing the wax so the waxed areas stay undyed. The wax can be drawn with a tool or stamped with a copper block. For a full explanation, see what is batik.
Where the Word Comes From
The word is generally traced to Javanese, with bathik relating to writing, dotting or drawing with wax. Scholars discuss several possible roots, so treat any single claim with caution.
A Popular Myth to Skip
You may read that batik comes from amba (to write) plus titik (dot). It is a tidy story, but it appears to be a folk explanation made after the fact rather than a proven origin. We'd rather not repeat it as fact.
UNESCO Recognition
In 2009, UNESCO added Indonesian batik to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Indonesia marks National Batik Day on October 2 each year.
Meaning in the Motifs
Many motifs carry symbolic meaning. Read the meaning behind batik motifs and types of batik patterns, or look up terms in our batik glossary.
Wear Batik
Our bandanas are hand-stamped batik on 100% cotton, made on Java. Shop all bandanas.
New: the 27" mid-size bandana. A new size in the same hand-stamped batik. Shop 27" bandanas ($35).
