When Hot Wax Lines Tell Stories – Our Batik Workshop in Sri Lanka

Winter in Europe. Summer in Sri Lanka. We immerse ourselves in the tropical warmth of southern Sri Lanka—and in an art that has enchanted us once before.

You may know our story about the hemp field, where we learned the art of batik from Hmong mountain women in Thailand. Back then, we sat among hemp plants and learned to draw patterns on fabric with hot wax. It was a magical moment: We discovered the Hmong’s craft—one that has had a major influence on the virblatt brand because it has influenced us.

When we came across Jez-Look Batiks during our journey, we knew immediately: This is an art form we want to show our children, too.

A Woman Who Never Gives Up

On an unassuming street in Matara, we find Jez-Look Batiks. From the outside, it is just a house; inside, it is a treasure trove full of colors, fabrics, and stories. And right in the middle of it all: Jezima Mohammed, over 80 years old, with her inspiring story.

She has been doing this for almost 70 years, and some of her female employees have been with her from the very beginning. They are part of her family—a family that has lived through every era. Including times when tourists stayed away because of the civil war or the pandemic.

The Depth Behind the Surface

As Jezima tells us her story, I begin to understand something I experience again and again when traveling: You only scratch the surface of a culture if all you do is look, take photos, and move on. But when you take the time. When you ask questions. When you truly listen and give your full attention—then doors open to something much greater.

We could simply have booked a workshop. A few hours of hot-wax action, a beautiful souvenir, and then on to the next spot. Instead, we are sitting here with a woman who shows us what perseverance means. What it means to remain true to your passion. What it means to take responsibility for others—even when times are hard.

We are invited to lunch, and her brother, who is visiting and eats the delicious curry with us, has an equally interesting life story—one that took him to the USA and will now bring him back home, to his family.

The Workshop: More Than Technique

When we pick up the tools ourselves, I feel a connection to our batik experience with the Hmong women. The same art, a different country, different stories—and yet the same principle: patience, precision, dedication. The copper pens must be dipped into hot wax, which is then used to draw the patterns on the fabric. Then comes the dye, followed by washing out the wax in boiling water. Layer by layer, a design takes shape.

Our children are fascinated by the process. They intuitively understand that something special is happening here—something that takes time and cannot be finished with a single click. In a world that is always speeding up, batik is a statement: “I am taking the time it takes to create my work of art.”

The Challenge: Creating Variety Layer by Layer

The major difference from our experience with the Hmong is that we are not working with just one color here. This is about multiple colors and complexity.

Jezima explains the process to us: You start with the lightest color and work your way step by step toward the darkest. First, you draw the areas that are meant to remain white with hot wax. Then comes the first dye bath—usually yellow or a light blue. Let it dry. Then apply wax again, this time to the areas that are meant to retain that color. Next dye bath, slightly darker. And so on.

With each layer, the pattern becomes more complex. The colors overlap and blend, creating new shades. In the end, after several rounds, you can create incredibly varied patterns—from delicate pastel tones to deep, rich colors in a single piece of fabric.

That is what makes her clothing unique. No two pieces are alike. Each one bears the signature of the person who made it: the decisions they made and the time they invested.

Alternative Clothing with Soul

We love alternative clothing that does more than cater to the mainstream. Clothing that is as diverse and unique as the people who wear it. Just like batik—every piece is different, and every pattern tells its own story.

To us, this is spiritual clothing in the original sense: clothing with a soul, clothing that connects you with something greater. Clothing that carries the energy of the people who made it. Clothing that shows respect for craftsmanship, tradition, and the time invested in it.

At virblatt, we work with the same idea: fashion with meaning. Clothing that is produced fairly, respects traditional craftsmanship, and creates a connection between the wearer and the people who made it.

The Lesson

Jezima plans to keep going until the very end. “I will continue for as long as I can.”

That is the message we take away with us: Do what you love. Keep going, even when it gets difficult. Take care of the people around you. Don’t give up.

Another equally important realization for us: When you travel, don’t just scratch the surface. Talk to people. Ask about their stories. Be curious. Listen. That is when you truly learn something. That is when genuine connection happens.

Batik teaches us that the most beautiful patterns emerge when you work layer by layer. With patience. With dedication. With the certainty that it is worth it.

Sthuthi (ස්තූතියි),
Your virblatt team