Step One
The artist draws the design on the cloth with a pencil.
Step Two
The artist then paints the outline of the motif onto the cloth, using a special hot wax applicator called the ‘Canting’ (Malay word)
Step Three
Next each color is painted one by one onto the stretched pareo. The natural wicking action of the fabric serves to blend and shade colors. The wax outlines prevent different colors from mixing.
Step Four
Now the pareo must hang to air dry.
Pray for sunny weather!
Step Five
Then the workers soak the
pareo in several baths, to fix the colors and to melt the wax out of the fabric.
