everyday dresses

Bali's legendary hand-painted batik brings island beauty a set of three rayon face masks by Desak Nyoman Parwati. Contoured for comfort, the double-layer masks depict cheerful fish on navy blue, turquoise and cherry red. They are washable and reusable, and feature elastic to loop over the ears.

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.

This handsome men's cotton shirt in shades of deep terracotta and pale blue-violet is the creation of Saktut Raitawati in Bali. She employs time-honored batik techniques to create a pattern reminiscent of the dappled light on a forest floor. The short-sleeved shirt features button-down styling, a straight hem and a spread collar.

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.

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.

Golden leaves drift in a sky of red and orange, their luminous images evoking autumn splendor. Desak Nyoman Parwati celebrates their joy in an intricate batik design. She crafts this robe with a flattering front-wrap style, wide sleeves and matching belt for leisure beauty.

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.

Bold bands of black and beige make a captivating combination with cardinal red. Revealing traditional motifs, 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.

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