Epiphanic Revival: Exploring Metallic Finishes on Batik Fabrics in Ghana

Batik fabric is an integral part of the traditional cloth culture of the Ghanaian traditional setting. However, the batik fabric has marginal usage due to its casual visual appearance. This studio practice seeks to explore the epiphanic revival in the use of metallic finishes on batik substrate to create an enhanced visual appearance with embellished aesthetic sensibilities and diversified use. The researchers adopted the studio-based approach of the qualitative design to manipulate handmade tools, techniques (collagraph) and the batik fabrics through experimentation to produce a glittering mercurial batik fabric which is typically an industrial practice. The studio practice took place at the Textile Design and Technology studio, Takoradi Technical University, Ghana. The traditional batik fabric was manipulated through fabric decoration techniques in accordance with studio-based practices. The Addie model was adopted as a methodological approach in the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation processes of the experimentation processes of the study. Findings revealed that the hand techniques used in the production process for the metallic prints produced interesting accidentals finishes and effects that machine work cannot achieve, producing new discoveries of visual enhancements of traditional batik fabric. Traditional batiks became mercurial with glittery effects. The metallic prints on the fabric also changed its consumption pattern from mere casual fabric to classic and cosmopolitan fabric for varied uses suitable for wearable to non-wearable.