Hmong Batik Art

The Hmong are one of the hilltribes living in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. One of signatures of this group is their Batik Art used in their garments. The following photos reveal the process of creating this art. The base material is hemp and the dye is indigo.

The Artist’s Studio

The Wax used for resist dyeing

Hemp fibre and fabric

Tools – the pen& the pen holder

Dipping the pen into melted wax

Creating the Art

Note how the pen is held!

Pre & Post dyeing

The final garment – the skirt

The garment is usually crimped after the dyeing is complete and cross stitch embroidery is added.

An example of a crimped skirt made out of 8 metres:

Antique Crimped but non-batik Skirt of a related ethnic group the Miao from Guizhou, South West China (shown here just because the crimping effect is impressive)

Hilltribe textiles are exhibited in the wovensouls collection.

Read a similar article on ajrakh block print art here.

Read a similar article on the lifestyle of the Hilltribes of Northern Thailand here.

Read a similar article on Nagaland Tribes here

jm