batik textile

Ghanaian artist Samuel Ashong signs a modern painting where numbers and math symbols in black and yellow take center stage. The artist works with the traditional batik technique on cotton to craft a remarkable composition that comes with a cardstock mat, ready for framing.

"This is an abstract depicting the schemes and other conspiracies tax collectors develop in outwitting the citizens," the artist explains. "In the work are three figures in the background representing the tax collectors."

Under the quiet shelter of a vibrant umbrella, a mother carries the whole world on her back. This dazzling collage by Ghanaian artist Emmanuel Atiemoh Yeboah captures the timeless grace of African motherhood through an explosion of oil paint and batik-patterned calico, a rustic cotton fabric alive with blues, yellows, greens and golds that seem to pulse with the rhythm of everyday life. The figure's silhouette, bold and unshakeable, holds both child and umbrella with the effortless strength that only a mother knows, all set within a frame of ceiba wood that grounds the composition in the natural world.

Environmental considerations command 21st Century design. Balinese artisan Nastiti presents a set of drinking straws for on-the-go hydration. Crafted from stainless steel, the set includes one straight straw, one bent straw, a cleaning brush, and a batik cotton storage pouch.

Add a touch of refined global style to your home with this beautifully textured geometric cushion cover from Tonga Textiles in Zimbabwe. Handwoven from 100% cotton, the fabric features a pattern that gives each piece rich, organic texture. The striking designs are created using a traditional resist-painting method similar to batik—painted by hand with Sadza, a maize-based paste, then sun-dried, hand-painted, and baked to lock in vibrant, lasting color. The fabric is then transformed into this stunning 18" pillow cover with an envelope-style back.

Each pillow is handmade in a Zimbabwean workshop that employs and empowers both men and women, providing training and sustainable income opportunities that help uplift the local community.