Wax Fabric

The method of printing patterned wax fabric is an ancient one, dating all the way back the the 4th c. BCE in Egypt. You might call it one of our earliest and most prevailing forms of artistic self-expression through clothing, a legacy continued by Atelier Beaurepaire.

The modern method of creating wax-printed fabric originated in Indonesia with Batik print, which uses wax to selectively layer colors, creating unique and vibrant patterns on cotton fabric.

When the Dutch came to Indonesia, they were inspired to further develop the Batik method, integrating their own patterns and making it more accessible through more efficient production.

Eventually, traders brought these fabrics and methods to East and West Africa, where they flourished.