This blog post is the fourth and final leg of the journey– Brian Lipstein‘s stop in Bali. Thanks for following along with us on Brian’s journey through Asia.
After his day trip to Thailand, Brian headed back to Bangkok and then flew to Bali. Brian was able to explore batik, a process of dying fabric native to the area.
Basically how it works is the craftsman applies and draws a hot layer of wax on raw fabric using either a pipe-like tool or cooper stamp tool. The fabric is then dyed with the wax still on it. The wax resists the fabric dye, so that the part of the fabric covered in wax remains un-dyed. Depending on the desired design, this process is repeated with different colors. The end result is a one-of-a-kind piece of handmade art. Every piece of batik fabric is unique adding an additional layer of individuality to a bespoke suit.
In the picture below, you can see the different phases of the batik process. It starts at the top left corner, goes all the way across the top row, and then continues from the bottom left corner to the bottom right corner.
Batik is a process that has existed in many different regions, but the reason batik is so popular in Indonesia is because all the ingredients for batik can be found in the Indonesian environment. For example, they can use the local plants, beeswax, and cotton to create the fabric dye.
In Indonesia, batik also has cultural significance. Different batik patterns are used depending on the purpose. For example, the design for a cloth to swaddle a baby will be different from the design for a bride’s dress for her wedding day. Also different batik patterns can signal your place on the socio-economic ladder.
Brian was excited to see this technique for himself because Henry A. Davidsen uses batik fabric to make custom shirts and small suiting details (as demonstrated on the Gambert Shirt Instagram). Using batik fabric in custom shirts is a way to stand out, bring color to your outfit, and blend an Eastern tradition into Western wear.
After visiting the batik shops, Brian was able to switch from business mode to personal mode. He was finally able to kick up his feet and stop checking his email. Brian spent the remaining four days of his trip in Bali playing tourist: befriending monkeys, chasing waterfalls, visiting temples, and scuba diving. Brian specifically loved scuba diving because he got to live underwater for three hours a day to see biosphere that most people will never get to see firsthand. Thanks for reading about Brian Lipstein’s stop in Bali!
Brian said, “I like to travel to meet new people, learn new cultures, learn how other people think, and create new experiences.” Brian is already planning to return to Asia. He’s in the midst of planning a family vacation to Japan in March to cheer on his big sister in the Tokyo Marathon.
As an experienced traveler (Brian has frequented Australia, the Middle East, and now Southeast Asia), Brian can make a recommendation for your next destination based off of what you’re looking to get out of your travel experience. After all, just like custom apparel, travel should be customizable! Check out our Instagram to see more pics from Brian’s Asia trip!
