The Gran Pajonal Expedition

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Caribelle Batik

While the technique behind  the fabric art of batik may be basic, the intricate results are anything but. Add the vibrant palette of the Caribbean, and the finished product is not merely beautiful – it truly captures the spirit of the region.

Which makes it entirely fitting  that Caribelle Batik, a studio / shop special izing in handcrafted batik items, is located in a quintessentially Kittitian setting: a 17^th-century former sugar plantation called Romney Manor. Once owned by Sam Jefferson (the great-great-great-grandfather of Thomas), the estate, whith lush grounds and gardens, is an ideal backdrop for the comapany’s workshop, where visitor can look an as batik artisans painstalkingly engage in the delicate process.

Batik originated as an art from in Indonesia thousands of year ago, but the practice has change little in its migration across the millennia and the glodbe. A design is applied to cotton fabric in wax using a special tool, and the the piece is immersed in dye. The waxeb porion of the fabric doesn’t absorb the color, resulting in a reversedyed image that, because it,s applied by hand, is always unique. The item is then boiled, which removes the wax, and hung to dry. The entire process, which can take anywhere from three days to more than a week, is repeated an necessary until the desired range of pattern and color is achieved.

There are differences between the typically Caribbean style of batik and that of its Pacific ancestor. Caribelle’s founder, English transplant Maurice Widdowson, draws the distinction: “Our artisans use bold colors, unlike in traditional Indonesian batik, where they tend to be more muted.” Indeed, the finished products boast a range of hues convering spectrum, from reds and pink to shades of orange, green and blue. The effect clearly reveals the inspiration of the island’s riotous profusion of colors.

That blend of setting and aesthetic is even reflected in the company’s identity. As Maurice points out, “Our name Caribelle, evokes boths the Caribbean and beauty, as belle is French for beautiful.” And like the name, “Caribelle’s product have a distinct flavor all their own.

“I think what is most special about us is that we offer such unique products is such a tranquil setting,” says manager Jamilia Samuel-Brazier. Another factor that sets Carobelle apart is the tellent and experience of its Kittitian artisans, some of whom have been with the company almost since its 1976 founding. Watching as they go about crafting each fichly detailed piece is rewarding experience, one matched only by choosing which piece of batik of the Caribbean, really you want to take home.