Antik Batik was founded in 1992 by Gabriella Cortese. Originally from Turin, Gabriella Cortese is the visionary founder behind the brand, creating a unique and authentic "boho chic" style. Antik Batik's roots lie in the craftsmanship that Cortese discovered on her travels. In an era of industrial mass production, continuing this anachronistic manufacturing process represents a form of resistance. Each handmade piece is valued as unique, and with each season, the human dimension of this process becomes increasingly important. The brand's sustainable development spans three fundamental pillars: social, environmental, and economic. Antik Batik operates in accordance with this holistic approach, with social relationships with partners playing a primary role. A chain of solidarity is created in which everyone supports and helps one another. "In times of crisis, we turn to ethics, we return to things that are true, that have roots. We have a desire for craftsmanship, authenticity, and humanity. Hands and people then make the difference."

Antik Batik is known for its use of natural materials combined with a fusion of strong artistic influences, embroidery, and captivating patterns. The secret of the brand lies in the special relationships Antik Batik has built over the years with the finest workshops in and around Delhi. Each of Antik Batik's masterfully embroidered pieces is the result of several days of handwork. Sequins are sewn onto a specific piece of fabric, which is stretched over a wooden frame and traditionally worked by up to four artisans simultaneously.

Antik Batik's collections include natural, plant-based shades such as indigo, vermillion, ochre, brown, and dark green, as well as complex colors such as pastels and neons. The fabrics are screen-printed far from industrial presses, for example, in Jaipur and Balinese workshops, using wooden frames and hand-carved stamps in the purest block-printing tradition. The patterns are sketched in Paris and hand-carved in a Jaipur workshop using simple metal tools, hammers, and chisels. They are then soaked in oil and flattened under a weight for two weeks.

Antik Batik relies on sustainable production methods and respects traditional manufacturing techniques. The brand's dyeing process, also known as tie-dye, is done by hand. Another method is resist dyeing, in which mud, wax, or starch is applied to the fabric by hand using a stencil or block print before immersion. Among the plant-based dyes used are madder root, which imparts a vibrant palette of reds, and pure indigo for blues. The fibers used by Antik Batik are mostly natural, such as cotton, silk, wool, and alpaca. All knitwear is hand-knitted in Peruvian workshops using materials such as natural pima cotton and alpaca fibers, resulting in the softest and most supple garments.

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