VL01666.004

In the factories of Helmond in 1852, Vlisco completed its first batch of what would become known as ‘Wax Hollandais’. Now more than 160 years later, it remains Vlisco’s most popular fabric. Made using a highly-unique wax printing technique unlike any other in the world, every piece of Wax Hollandais is created with an unequalled and extraordinary level of care and precision. First, a design in liquid wax is printed on cotton. A base dye such as indigo soaks into the cloth around the wax, leaving behind a deep, intense colour. One single piece of Wax Hollandais goes through an average of 25 total steps before completion, and part of the magic of wax printing can cause a pattern of small, irregular bubbles and crackling to emerge throughout the design. Vlisco’s sophisticated printing processes result in complex and brilliant layers of imagery and colour.