Lamentation of a Batik Lover

I am a Batik lover
People collect memorabilia,
I collect Batik

My closet is full of Batik,
I have Batik tops, bottoms, accesories, even footwear
But still;

Whenever I see a beautiful pattern of Batik fabric
I could not contain myself
Batik, come to papa !
I will open my wallet to get that Batik

Whenever I am in bad mood
I go Batik shopping
When my shopping bag is filled with Batik
I feel my enthusiasm coming back
Batik, I love you ! I truly do

But lately, there is a sorrow in my heart
And the cause of my sorrow is printed Batik patterned fabric
I call them the imposters
And those imposters are dangerous for Artisanal Batik Industry
They makes the Batik artisans have lower sales

Lower sales = less money = less enthusiams = change profession = no more batik

Let me tell you some facts about imposters
1. They cost cheaper than the average painted or stamped batik
2. They are printed by machines
3. Usually the patterns in fabric are perfect
   ( because they are the product of machines not human )
4. The patterns are duplicated from classic or modern Batik
5. The real Batik are usually made in silk or cambric/batiste,
6. You won't find a tinge smell of wax in mechanized imposters

So,I beg you to buy hand painted Batik or stamped Batik
They may be more expensive, but consider them an investment of humanity
Remember those Batik Artisans , remember their kids, their community

Batik is a process;a technique. That's not my saying. It is what the dictionary, the wikipedia said a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique. 

So, when you buy the imposters, you kill the real Batik.

I hope my lamentation pleads into your heart. 

AA, a Batik lover and collector