Indigo, Hemp & Batik (photo-essay)

Indigo batik on embroidered cotton. The indigo has bled during repeated washes, reducing the contrast. Batik "resist" designs are created by drawing with hot wax onto fabric. The fabric is immersed into dye, then the wax is removed, leaving the undyed parts visible.

Indigo batik on cotton. This intricate design has been recycled - once used in a skirt, it's now used as straps on a baby-carrier that has been used for a half-dozen children.

Indigo batik on hemp. Simple batik designs enhance hemp's distinctive rough texture.

Tinted indigo batik on cotton. Note that some areas of the batik have been selectively tinted with a warm brown natural dye to give added dimension to the design.

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Image © 2009 Elizabeth Briel

Many travelers are captivated by the unique traditional fabrics in the hilltribe regions of SE Asia. Here's a selection of images from the H'mong of northern Vietnam.

This is part of a series of articles made possible by a travel grant from ThingsAsian

Published on 2/15/09

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