Natural Batik Village... a batik in making....

Location: Lot 4898, Batu 9 1/2, Jalan Kemaman, Kampung Chengal Lempong, 26100 Balok, Kuantan
Tel: 09-544 7335
Coordinates: N3°55.387′ E103°22.012′

Our journey continues to Kuantan, and on the way, we did stop by at this batik village. "Batik" is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique to produce. We did some research to come over here as this is one of the biggest batik store available in east coast. Furthermore, batik is famous in east coast.

Our search doesn't let us down on the visit. Though from outside it's look like another store selling the clothes, but what really capture us during the visit was the manufacturing area besides the store. Maybe it was lunch break, when we visited the manufacturing area, it was no people at that time.

We are able to visit and see some of the cloth where it was hanging there for production. We saw a white cloth designed with some pattern, guess it was drawn with wax not long ago. One can freely design their pattern on the cloth. Most of design comes with flower design.

Once the design is ready, it will goes for coloring process. There are 2 method for the coloring:
1. Hand painting color where one will fill the cloth with colors by using brush.
2. Soak the cloth with color, and only 1 color for each soak.

After that, the next process is called "Color Fixing" where the dried cloths will be soaked into sodium silicate. Finally, the cloth will be soaked with soda ash mix with pipe water to remove the wax.

Here, the wax is boiled and ready to be use for waxing on the cloths.

Over here, the color is ready for the coloring process. There are lot of colors to choose from. One can use the brush to paint the cloth after the waxing process.

This is called canting, a wooden handled tool with a tiny metal cup with a tiny spout which the melted wax will seeps out.

Over here, all the finished products is hung up to dry. We took our time to see the finished product and also appreciate on the detailed workmanship done. We also came across to know that this center also provide lesson for the first timer or enthusiast to learn up the batik making process. One also can make their own master piece over here.

I would say this place is worth to visit to learn more about batik. It would be better if advance arrangement to be made in the first place. For more information, you can get from their official website: http://www.batikfactory.com.my