A look into Indonesia's oldest batik-producing region

Laweyan batik village is the oldest batik-producing region in Indonesia, dating back to before the 15th century during the reign of Sultan Hadiwijaya (Joko Tingkir).

A batik craftsperson presses a copper stamp called a "cap" to make traditional Indonesian batik at the Lar Gurda workshop, in Solo City, Central Java, Indonesia, Sept. 4, 2021.

Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth or cloth made using this technique.

A batik craftsperson applies melted wax using a spouted tool called a canting to make traditional Indonesian batik, Sept. 4, 2021.

Of Javanese origin, batik is made either by drawing dots and lines with a spouted tool called a canting or by printing with a copper stamp called a cap. Batik are seen at the Lar Gurda workshop, Sept. 4, 2021.

The applied wax resists dyes and therefore allows the artisan to color selectively by soaking the cloth in one color, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if multiple colors are desired.

A bowl of molten wax is seen as craftspeople make traditional Indonesian batik at the Lar Gurda workshop, Sept. 4, 2021.

UNESCO has designated Indonesian batik a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Batik craftspeople apply melted wax using the spouted tools called canting, Sept. 4, 2021.

Unfinished batik are seen at the Lar Gurda workshop, Sept. 4, 2021.

Batik craftspeople press copper stamps called a "cap" as they make traditional Indonesian batik, Sept. 4, 2021.

A batik craftsperson applies melted wax using a spouted tool called canting, Sept. 4, 2021.

Different kinds of "caps" lay in the foreground as men press the copper stamps on the fabric, Sept. 4, 2021.

Caps used by craftspeople in the traditional shop, Sept. 4, 2021.

Men work on the fabric in different stages with the caps to stamp on the desired designs, Sept. 4, 2021.

A batik craftsperson carefully presses a copper stamp on the partially dyed fabric, Sept. 4, 2021.

A batik craftsperson boils cotton cloth to remove wax as they make traditional Indonesian batik at the Lar Gurda workshop, Sept. 4, 2021.

A woman presents a batik made in the shop, Sept. 4, 2021.

Batik is laid out near a tub of water, Sept. 4, 2021.

Cloth is dried before processing, Sept. 4, 2021.

A man inspects the finished batik as it dries, Sept. 4, 2021.

Copper stamps are seen as they make traditional Indonesian batik, Sept. 4, 2021.

A man carries batik that has been processed, Sept. 4, 2021.