Cotton shoulder bag, 'Shy Girl'

With innocence and tenderness, a young girl smiles shyly from the past. Wisarut Suwan creates a traditional-style portrait in batik to adorn a cheerful tangerine shoulder bag. He first stretches cotton on a frame. The design is painted with a mixture of hot wax and resin, and the piece goes into the dye pot. When the fabric is crumpled into the dying solution, the wax cracks, creating an attractive network of fine lines. The wax is removed and the process is repeated for each color utilized. Suwan uses sodium bicarbonate to achieve an antique effect. Because each piece is crafted individually, there may be slight variations in pattern and color. Hand wash in warm water with mild detergent.