In Pictures: Costume Design and Fashion Class

We're taking a brief break from posting on our trip to Ooty and the Nilgiris to focus on one of the elective classes available to ISP students. You may remember our feature of the Culinary Arts class last semester.

Four of the ISP Spring '12 students have elected to take the Costume Design and Fashion (CDF) class this semester. Last week's agenda was to learn to batik!

Jamie hard at work

Our students learned four different batik techniques and got to practice their artistic skills drawing their designs in hot wax on pieces of fabric in this hands-on class session.

Splatter method at bottom, painted design at the top

The methods included splattering wax, dipping an entire piece of fabric in wax and crinkling it up and painting designs with a brush or dropper.

Jamie's painted sun. Isn't it fantastic?

 CDF students got to practice their batiking skills and then take their creations home at the end of class!

Dipping a design into red or pink dye

According to CDF professor Dr. Sheila John, one of the assignments for class this semester will be to create a piece of clothing (kurta (tunic top) or dupatta (scarf)) using one of the dyeing techniques learned in the class. Two weeks ago, the lesson was in tie-dye techniques!

Kendra's notes about batik, including the 'recipe' for mixing dye

CDF students this semester have really enjoyed the hands-on aspects of learning this class has to offer, and are looking forward to what the rest of the semester holds!
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For more photos from CDF class, see our Facebook album here.


For a brief note on the history of batik in India, click here.

Look forward to more posts on our weekend visit to the Nilgiris, as well as a feature on dosa, one of our favorite foods, on What I Ate Wednesday, coming soon to a computer near you!