Contrary to popular belief, the fabric dyeing actually comes last when preparing batik designs. After the wax designs have dried, the women dip these pieces of fabric into naturally prepared indigo vats over and over again to reach the perfect hue of deep, dark blue. For some tribes, the deeper the indigo, the more prized the material is.
Then, the pieces of cloth are hung out to dry, constantly being turned to make sure the color is the same on both sides. With plenty of sunshine, this process can be completed in 3 – 4 days, however, during rainy weather, it can take months to achieve the dark indigo hues.
Once everything is completed, the wax of the design is removed by boiling the cloth in hot water. What’s left is the stark white swirls and patterns against a deep blue/black background. Embellishments will later be added in brighter colors of green, red, purple, and pink, finally stitched together piece by piece to create jackets, skirts, baby carriers, bags, and hats.