Batik / Process

Batik / Process - Osei – Duro

Batik happens.

As a physical object of both fashion and commerce, designed and hand produced in a horizontal, human scale industry, batik fabric is the expression of social relationships between people and their shifting material reality. Each piece is unique, and as a result of many tiny choices or accidents in the process, different each time.

Batikers: Juliana Mustafa and Kobi. Photography: Jessica Sarkodie Model: Nuerki Nortey Art Direction: Super Bonjour

Artisan immersing a tool in red dye for traditional batik fabric creation.

Person with raised arm, back to camera, in vibrant dress by a sunlit building.

Arm holding blue bucket, brushing a yellow dye pattern on fabric outdoors.
Woman twirling between pink fabrics on a line, wearing a colorful dress, in a serene outdoor setting.
Close-up of West African batik stamps with ‘Z’ pattern, amidst a stained setting with bags.
Person in a stunning batik dress, standing between pink fabrics on a clothesline, one arm raised.
Person in a colorful sleeveless dress by a teal wall, hand raised blocking the sun, near a dark door.

 

Woman in front of a colorful hand-dyed fabric, wearing a dress of the same fabric, standing outdoors.
Artisan handling yellow fabric in dyeing process, surrounded by containers.
Model walking past large hand-dyed fabrics on the ground, blue truck, and building behind.
Artisan lifting vibrant orange fabric from dye in a large black container.
Person in hand-dyed dress by a pink wall and colorful fabric hanging.
Orange dyed fabric in a black basin on sandy ground.

 

Artisan kneeling down to paint colorful dye on fabric outdoors on the ground.