Which technique uses wax to resist dye on cloth?

Answer Details

Batik is the technique that uses wax to resist dye on cloth. In this process, melted wax is applied to specific areas of the fabric using a tool called a tjanting (a small spouted copper cup) or a stamp. When the fabric is dipped into dye, the waxed areas repel the dye and remain undyed. After dyeing, the wax is removed by boiling or ironing, revealing the pattern. Multiple rounds of waxing and dyeing in different colours can produce complex, multicoloured designs.

The fine cracks that develop in the wax during handling allow thin lines of dye to seep through, creating the distinctive "crackle" effect that is a hallmark of batik.

Quilting involves stitching layers of fabric and padding together to create a padded textile - it does not use wax or resist dyeing. Tie-dye is also a resist dyeing technique, but it uses tying, folding, or binding the fabric to resist the dye, not wax. The question specifically asks about wax as the resist agent, which uniquely identifies batik.