Antik Batik is the embodiment of boho-chic, blending Parisian vibes with traditional and ancestral techniques from Bali, India, and Peru.
Founded in 1992 by Gabriella Cortese, Antik Batik isn’t about following quick trends. The ethos of the brand is built around "the fashion of a traveller", reflecting Cortese’s own journey to Paris and how her time performing at the Crazy Horse cabaret influenced her later design work through her exploration of the artistic use of light and pattern on the body. Cortese then channeled her love for global textiles, slow fashion, and ethical craftsmanship into a powerhouse, filling wardrobes with colour and texture.
The brand’s value lies in the human touch. From the Bandhani tie-dyeing of Rajasthan to the intricate point de croix embroidery, Cortese’s approach to design turns every blouse into a wearable diary of the person who made it.
You know an Antik Batik piece when you see it. Several of their pieces have cult status, including their embroidered vests, Victorian-boho blouses, and their range of pareos that are summer wardrobe staples.
MAGYAR VEST, £515
MARIA JACKET, £420
JANE PAREO, £80
BABY BLOUSE, £270
Antik Batik’s outerwear is where their luxurious texture really shines. They are famous for pieces that feel like vintage treasures found in an attic. Our personal favourites are their fur jackets, which always bring us joy when the weather turns cold.
An Antik Batik jacket is a hero piece of the wardrobe. It can transform a simple pair of denim jeans into an ensemble that echoes that effortless Parisian je ne sais quoi.
Historically, the brand became famous for its shaggy Mongolian lamb jackets and rabbit fur vests in earthy tones. They have now shifted to align with modern ethics, with recent collections pivoting towards high-quality faux fur and shearling.
The brand frequently bridges the gap between fashion and art, renewing its partnership with Art Paris for 2026. Cortese has partnered with Art Paris to curate a selection of 10 artists that reflect the intimacy of repair, transformation, and reconstruction that Cortese attributes to her own experiences working alongside artisans in India and Peru.
The artwork that Cortese has chosen clearly links to the artisanal designs that define Antik Batik, such as Christiane Löhr’s use of organic materials and Lyndi Sales’ use of pattern as a language.
Cortese has curated this journey for the audience to slow down and consider vulnerability as a space for connection. On show from Cortese’s 9 - 12 of April at the Grand Palais, Paris, the selection includes work from Lyndi Sales, Otobong Nkanga, and Christiane Löhr.
Antik Batik is a testament to the beauty of the slow and the storied. Whether through the heavy warmth of a faux-shearling coat or the delicate light play of an embroidered vest, to wear Antik Batik is to carry a piece of the world with you. In a fast-paced digital age, it is a rare invitation to slow down, lean into the texture of life, and find connection.
Images: Antik Batik
