process of dyeing cloth using a dye-resistant substance

(often wax) to control which parts of a

fabric are dyed.    Perhaps the easiest way to

 explain is with some simple examples.

Example A:  Simple Black & White Sarong (like the b-sa-bw sarongs on the wholesale sarong page of this web site):

   Step 1:   Begin with a white piece of rayon material. 

   Step 2:     Apply wax by dipping a wood or brass "stamp" into melted wax, then onto the cloth, repeat as needed.   In the top photo to the right there are several slightly different flower-like stamps involved. 

   Step 3:   Let the wax dry.   The wax soaks all the way through the fabric, and protects it from being dyed a different color in the next step.   In this case, the original white color of the sarong is being protected by the wax, so in the end the flower-like shapes will be white.

   Step 4:    Now that the wax has hardened, the whole sarong is immersed in black dye.  The black dye soaks into the sarong everywhere except where the wax is. 

   Step 5:    Lastly the wax is boiled off.  The final sarong has white flowers on a black background (pictured at right).  Some of you may have noticed that the flower-like designs have turned into an angelfish.  That won't actually happen, but I'm just using the photos I have handy.

Example B:  Dual-Process Sarong (like the b-sa-r, b-sa-r-beaded and b-sa-prem sarongs on the wholesale sarong page of this web site).  Note: the three photos to the right are from three different sarongs.  You will have to use your imagination a bit to follow from step to step. Sorry:

   Step 1:   Begin with a white sarong. 

   Step 1.5:   Using a sponge, paint on 2 or more dye colors in alternating pattern as in the first photo to the right. 

   Step 2:     Apply wax by dipping a wood or brass "stamp" into melted wax, then onto the cloth, repeat as needed.   In the second photo to the right the stamp has little fish shapes (note that in this case the wax itself appears black.  The color of the wax doesn't affect the color of the sarong.) 

   Step 3:   Let the wax dry.   The wax soaks all the way through the fabric, and protects it from being dyed a different color in the next step.   So in this case, the alternating colors sponged on in the first step are being protected by the wax, so in the end the little fish like shapes will show these colors.

   Step 4:    Now that the wax has hardened, the whole sarong is immersed in blue dye.  The blue dye soaks into the sarong everywhere except where the wax is. 

   Step 5:    Lastly the wax is boiled off.  The final sarong has colorful fish (now turned into dolphins) on a blue background (pictured at right).