And in the 1990s, khaki is the craze. For centuries, textiles played an important role in the practical ceremonial and religious lives of the peoples of Asia. The weaving, dye and yarn preparation and even the designs of traditional Asian textiles were tied up in rituals performed by women. It was the British who started exporting textiles from India in the 1600s. The imports were then brought by the British to America, as one of its former colonies.
Areas covered with wax resist the dye creating a pattern.
Often during the dyeing process, a random crack appears in the wax and the dye leaks into it, creating an unexpected and distinctive design. The process is repeated several times with different colors of dye, so that a very complex system of blended colors results. The wax mixture typically is a combination of beeswax, paraffin, resins and fats. The wax is applied hot, so one must work fast when applying it to the cloth. People from Indonesia are known for having perfected batik as an art form on the island of Java.