Revival of natural dyes

Sat, September 3, 2016 / 02:05 am

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Pieces of wood from sappanwood [Caesalpinia sappan] and tropical almond tree [Terminalia catappa] are used to create a red-brown color. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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A batik industry worker in Kampung Laweyan at Bekonang, Sukoharjo, Central Java. Many buyers prefer naturally dyed batik because it is more environmentally friendly. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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A worker hangs a naturally dyed batik cloth in Bekonang, Sukoharjo, Central Java. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi.
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A worker uses his feet to remove wax from a batik cloth in Bekonang, Sukoharjo, Central Java. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi.
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Two workers burn the wax. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi.
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A batik artisan draws a motif on a cloth using a tool called a "canting". JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi.
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Two artisans work on batik motifs. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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A batik craftswoman draws batik motifs using a brush, a painting technique referred to as “colet”. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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The detail of a “colet”work, a painting technique in which a brush is used. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Workers sprinkle color enhancer on batik cloths drawn using the “colet” painting technique. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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A man checks on a batik cloth after it is painted with colors. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Two workers check on the result of a batik of a contemporary motifs painted with natural dye. This kind of batik get exported to America, Brunei Darussalam, and European countries. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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A worker folds a batik cloth dyed with natural ingredients. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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A closer look at a “colet” or “lukis” technique, which is done using paint or a sponge. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Workers wash batik cloths in a river. Waste from naturally dyed batik is less polluting than batik which uses chemical dyes. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

Batik dyeing trends have shifted from using artificial ingredients to natural ones.

The natural dyeing process is more complicated than the chemical one, because it must be done repeatedly to get the desired color.

The colors produced from natural dyes are more soft and unique. Moreover, using natural dyes is more environmentally friendly, whereas chemical dyes will pollute the river where batik waste is dumped.

Natural dyes come from plant extracts such as wood, bark, roots, seeds, leaves and husks. The color which is the resulted of the materials will be varied according to the character of each color.

For example, natural dye from teakwood will produce a red-brown dye, while bark from a mango tree will create a green. Avocado leaves will produce a green-brown dye, while turmeric produces a bright yellow color.

In the 1950s, the use of batik dyes from natural extracts was not popular because using chemical dyes was more practical.

Batik dyes from natural ingredients are experiencing a revival at a time when environmental awareness is rising. Naturally dyed batik is especially popular among foreign tourists. [evi]