Blue and Purple Batik Rayon Tunic from Bali, "Balinese Waters"

“My name is Wayan Arta, and I started working in the apparel business as a sewer for an American company. I worked there from 1988 to 1993. During that time, I got a promotion to be a pattern maker. Working there, I became knowledgeable about production methods, working directly on catalog and large retailer orders.

“Using my experiences in this American company gave me the opportunity to work with Sharon Steinmann. Sharon is an American who handled and designed products for major women’s catalogs. Together, we created designs and started production on special patterns. We specialize in batik--primarily ancient batik--which is a beautiful, but dying art from Indonesia. Sharon is the one who decides on our batik motifs and designs the apparel, while I am in charge of production. We have worked together in this business for over 10 years.

“We chose this kind of batik motif because I wanted to continue the heritage of batik. This batik is centuries old, involving traditional techniques native to the islands of Bali and Java. It is an entirely handmade process that requires special skill and extraordinary patience. Originally, batik motifs were religious in nature, but now it features more mandala or botanical themes. The process is becoming rare due to the difficulty and hand-painted aspects of making the fabric.

“To support our production, we have eight workers in our workshop in Bali. I am the production manager. I supervise the pattern makers, cutters, sewers and also do quality control. We are lucky to have employed seven locals who have been working with us for a long time.

“Being in this business, contributing to the continuation of batik heritage, is a great honor for me, and I hope that one day I can teach this art to my son. Thanks to God, this business has helped me provide a decent life for my family. I can also help my children get a good education and go to college. I don’t yet know if all of my children will continue this batik craft. I hope my son will continue my work.

“Making apparel is not hard to do in Bali, because the rayon fabric is all sourced here. All the materials and supplies that we use are produced locally. We are proud of our crafts, because we are among the few people in the world that create this type of batik. Another reason that our pieces are great is because our fabrics feature a deep saturation of colors.

“By joining Novica, I hope we can continue to grow and build a business that is profitable and supports local artisans and traditional batik methods. I also want to introduce ancient batik motifs to the world. I am sure that the world will like it.”