Batik

First, I am just a soft, plain piece of cloth. Shhh, it’s a secret. Someone draws on me with warm, melty wax. It tickles. They draw secret patterns all over me. Then, SPLASH. I go into a big tub full of bright blue color. I swim and swim in the blue. When I come out, the wax is washed away. And guess what? A beautiful picture is left behind. I am Batik. I am a special, colorful cloth.

Kind people called artisans have been making me for a very, very long time. They live in a sunny place called Java in Indonesia. They use a tiny tool that looks like a little pen to draw pretty things on me. They draw swirly flowers and happy little birds. The artisans are very careful. Sometimes, after my blue bath, I get to take another bath. SPLASH. This time in a warm brown color. Or maybe a happy red color. I become a rainbow of patterns. When I am all dry, I become special clothes for happy parties. Or I hang on a wall like a pretty picture. Every flower and every bird on me tells a little story.

People all around the world think my patterns are beautiful. They love my bright colors and my happy stories. On a very special day, October 2nd, 2009, everyone decided I am a treasure. A treasure for the whole world to love and keep safe. I am not just a piece of cloth. I am art made with lots of love. I carry happy colors and secret stories that make people everywhere smile and feel connected.