Journey Through Memory Lane

Hello friends,

I was happily working at an animation studio in South India when a batik-painted dress caught my eye at a shop on Kovalam Beach. It wasn’t my first time seeing batik, but the artistry was different, and it sparked a new curiosity in me. I became determined to learn more about the art of batik. Back then, books were my only source of knowledge since the internet wasn’t widely available, and finding content on niche crafts like this was nearly impossible.

During a vacation in Mumbai, I searched bookstores and eventually found some expensive books on batik. I also started looking for dyes and tools, which led me to a place called Pydhonie. The seller, however, wasn’t willing to sell me the dyes until I could prove I knew how to use them! He was adamant, and I was disappointed. After some persuasion, he finally handed me a bag of materials and a short pamphlet with instructions.

I felt like I had won, but soon realized that the pamphlet and materials weren’t much help without proper training, and the books were written for a foreign context. By the time my vacation ended, I was mystified and unsure of what to do next.

But I didn’t give up. Through trial and error, I kept experimenting, and eventually, I figured it out. Slowly but surely, I started getting results and learned how to use the dyes properly.

For anyone interested in this beautiful art form, I’m happy to share the address of the seller in case it helps you on your own journey.