Now known primarily for its blue holes, pine forests and crabs, Andros' reputation as a trendsetting Family Island seems to have fallen by the wayside - it has, after all, been several decades since Androsia took the nation by storm. Though the vibrant batik cloth and clothing may not be found as frequently across The Bahamas, the Birch family - known aptly as the Androsia Family - is still making Androsia the way Rosi Birch developed the practice on the shores of Andros in the 1960s and early 70s.
Settling in Andros with her husband, Dick Birch, who established the still-running Small Hope Bay Lodge in 1960, Rosi Birch was an artist who was introduced to batik by a guest at the resort.
"It was an art project for kids one day," said granddaughter Casey Birch, who knows how the family business got started through a visitor who "showed [Rosi Birch] how to do it using candle wax and a little bit of food coloring. Then she thought immediately, 'This is kind of a low-tech, really easy way to create something that could eventually be a business and provide more employment on the island'."
An ancient practice, batik has its roots in Southeast Asia; the Birches, though, are proud of Rosi's mastery and unique twist on the dyeing process. Starting out in the late 60s, the founder of Androsia - a fusion of "Andros" and "Rosi" - began making batik prints on the beach at Small Hope Bay Lodge. Over time and through much trial and error, she developed her own method of making batik cloth.
The process begins by hand carving stamps - the shapes seen on Androsia cloth, often inspired by nature - out of foam. Stamps are dipped in hot wax and applied to the fabric, making dye-resistant shapes on the cloth. The fabric is then bundled up and dyed in bath tubs with color blends mixed by the Androsia Company. The dyeing process takes, on average, two hours per color; when that's done, the fabric is put through a hot water treatment to remove the wax and excess dye, leaving the finished Androsia print.
Rosi Birch's plan was to grow the practice so that "one element of the production would be done in every community in Central Andros - they could wax in Fresh Creek, dye down south, then bring it back to be cut and sewn," said Casey Birch.
Though it didn't quite work out that way, the art form began to develop the local community in other avenues. Teaching people to sew and equipping them with sewing machines, the small organization would make fabric, hand paint and dye it and send it out to be sewn in local homes. With growing popularity, the company was established in 1973 - the year of Bahamian independence.
"That's why we use such bright colors and natural designs - to showcase the natural beauty of The Bahamas," said Casey Birch. "To have a product that was produced, manufactured, sewn and cut in The Bahamas, because it was the year of independence, it just became very, very popular throughout 70s and 80s. Now it's become synonymous with the product and the fabric of The Bahamas."
The granddaughter estimates that, in those decades, the family business "had hundreds of employees and shops everywhere". Now in their third generation of batik dyeing, it doesn't seem like the Birches have any reason to stop. Androsia cloth is still in demand throughout the country; though the Androsia Family has localized its company, consumers can and do still purchase cloth and clothing online or from local suppliers. Though there are several imitations around, the Birch family reminds clients that true Androsia is identified by the Androsia stamp present on each yard of the batik fabric.
Popular with school groups touring Andros, this past June, the Androsia Family decided to return the favor by traveling to Nassau for an Androsia workshop held at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB). Wax pots, stamps, stencils and cloth in tow, the Androsia team gave youngsters a hands-on lesson in the Androsia batik process. Each participant was given a bandanna or tote bag to decorate with wax; the Androsia Family carried the patterned items Andros to be dyed and then shipped them back to the crafts makers as keepsakes.
A hit with the kids, Casey and the Androsia team will be back at the NAGB on Saturday, September 13 to hold two workshops for kids and adults, respectively. At a cost of $25 for children (ages six and up) and $30 for adults, both groups will have two hours (kids from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and adults from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) to decorate their Androsia goods; adult participants will have the option of decorating a scarf or large tote bag.
"We think it's important because I think that most people in The Bahamas are aware of Androsia. They know what it looks like.

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