Making batik

Ghanaians wear beautiful cloth custom made into outifts, most often the 'kaba and slit', a long skirt and a top in a variety of designs. Cloth is sold by the yard in a variety of colourful designs in wax print, tie dye and batik. Esther makes tie dye and batiks at her home which she sells at her shop in town. When Katie, my niece, was here in September we went to see Esther at work. Esther has a collection of wooden stamps which she uses to apply the wax to the cloth. They depict designs such as the Adinkra symbols which each have a special meaning, the most popular being 'Gye Nyame', seen everywhere on plastic chairs, taxis, and most recently in the designs for the celebrations of Ghana's 50th anniversary. It's meaning 'except God', reminds everyone that without God, nothing can be achieved. Esther carefully dips the stamps in the hot wax and applies it to the cloth. The cloth is then dyed and dried in the sunshine. It will be sewn into outfits, and also in my case bedsheets, curtains and chair covers. Thanks to Katie and her artist's eye for the beautiful shots.