classy dresses

Colorful flowers blossom with exotic elegance over a crimson background. "Red symbolizes courage," says Yuni Kristina, as she decorates this silk shawl with batik techniques. The traditional patterns originate in Pekalongan, central Java.

Several days are spent to create this floral batik silk masterpiece. Artisan Yuni Kristina learned the art of Indonesian batik, a UNESCO cultural treasure, from her mother.

Gorgeous flowers in storm grey shower this rayon batik robe with tropical elegance in a design by Bali's Nyoman Nadri. She creates this graceful rayon robe with wide sleeves and a matching belt. In traditional kimono style, the robe features openings under the arms for adjusting the robe and for ease of movement.

Silhouetted on cherry red, delicate yellow hibiscus flowers evoke thoughts of the tropics. They show the tonal variations of batik. Nyoman Nadri creates this graceful rayon robe with wide sleeves and a matching belt. In traditional kimono style, the robe features openings under the arms for adjusting the robe and for ease of movement.

Batik is a fabric art in which the cloth is stretched on a wooden frame and the design sketched with a pencil. Then a mixture of melted wax is painted by hand onto areas where color is not desired. When the fabric is crumpled into the dying solution, the wax cracks, creating an attractive network of fine lines. The wax is removed and the process is repeated for each color utilized. Finally, the cloth is washed and rinsed to remove any excess dye.

This handpainted batik robe is a truly original work of art. Sunlight, water, dye and temperature all factor into the look of the finished robe. This should be considered a unique design made especially for you. Colors and pattern placement will vary.

By Bali's Ketut Suwitra, this cool shirt for men showcases the colors of hand-stamped batik. Epaulets and pockets with button flaps dress up the classic short-sleeved cotton shirt.

Ivory cotton is dyed using batik, a resist-dyeing technique, to create this vibrant shirt. A variety of traditional Javanese and original motifs are used throughout the shirt. Hari and Arthur design it while embracing unexpected results, which they say adds to the uniqueness of his handcrafted textiles. The front includes hidden coconut shell buttons and a chest pocket.