Androsia is a batik fabric and garment manufacturing company on Andros Island in the Bahamas. Since 1973, we have used the beautiful environment of the Bahamas as inspiration for our print designs and brilliant colours.

We offer a complete line of women's, men's, and children's batik clothing as well as accessories, home goods, and fabric by-the-yard. The company also produces custom designs for retailers, corporations and other organizations, such as the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Now, you can order Androsia on our online shopping cart at www.Androsia.com. Androsia is also sold at fine shops throughout the Bahamas.

Androsia was originally started as a cottage industry in 1973, the year of Bahamian independence. The company initially had two goals: To provide meaningful employment for local people, and create a quality product that would reflect the beauty of the Bahamas with its designs and colours.

Androsia has been copied by imitators, but there is only one original Androsia.   Androsia is strictly a Bahamian product, made in the Bahamas by Bahamians. Look for the Androsia name in the design, If it doesn’t say Androsia, it’s not!

Our fabric designs are made by the ancient art of batik. True batik. Every yard is waxed with a design, then dyed, cut and sewn right at Androsia. We consider ourselves world leaders in our ability to reproduce shades that match very well -although we cannot guarantee exact matches because every yard is hand-dyed.
Androsia uses cold-water dyes to avoid melting the wax that is used in creating batik. We have developed a way of using fiber reactive dyes that allow great reproducibility. Our dyes are remarkably color-fast, remaining bright, clear and upbeat while displaying the striking wonders of our tropical world.

Androsia is very easy care. You never have to dry clean or hand wash our products. All Androsia pieces are preshrunk during the hot water wash we use to remove excess dyes and wax. After you wash Androsia the first time by itself, in hot water to remove any residual dye, you can wash the item anyway you want without fear of damaging it.

THE SHOPS

All shops in bold carry the complete line of Androsia women's, men's, children's, accessories, and home lines. These Bahamas shops also carry our batik fabric sold by the yard. Great Bahamas Shopping!

• Androsia of Cable Beach - Radisson Mall next to Crystal Palace Casino, Nassau - Only taking special orders at this time - 1-242-327-6083
  
  
• Sea Grape at Traveller's Rest, Nassau
  
  
• Commonwealth Fabrics Center , Centerville, Nassau - 1-242-325-5796 (Fabric only)
  
  
• The Plait Lady - Marina Village, Paradise Island
  
  
• Sundrop Creations - Main Store - Dowdeswell St & Christie Street
  
  
• Lynden Pindling International Airport - International Departure Lounge
  
  
• Sheraton Hotel Mall, Cable Beach - Formally Radisson Hotel Mall (opening Spring 2008)
  
  
• Marsh Harbour Abaco - opened December 2007, next door to Iggy Biggy.
  
  
• UNEXSO, Port Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahama.
  
  
• Bahamas Fabrics, downtown Freeport, Grand Bahama.
  
  
• Small Hope Bay Lodge Gift Shop, Small Hope, Central Andros -1-800-223-6961 or 1-242-368-2014
  
  
• Androsia Outlet Store, Fresh Creek, Central Andros - 1-242-368-2020 or 2080
  
  
• Club Peace and Plenty Gift Shop, George Town, Exuma (Fabric only)
  
  
• Starfish Adventures, George Town, Exuma
  
  
• Cape Santa Maria Gift Shop, North Long Island, Bahamas
  
• Ebbtide, Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco - 1-242-366-0088
  
  
• Island Girl Boutique, Marsh Harbour, Abaco
  
  
• Native Creations, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco
  
  
• The Sail Shop, Man of War Cay, Abaco (canvas bags only)
  
  
• Sea Side Boutique, Man of War Cay, Abaco (fabric & accessories)
  
  
• Joe's Studio, Man of War Cay, Abaco
  
  
• Briland's Androsia, Harbour Island, Eleuthera - 1-242-333-2342
  
  
• Island Made Gift Shop, Gregory Town, Eleuthera
  
  
• Almond Tree, Rock Sound, Eleuthera
  
  
• Sammy T's, Bennett's Harbour, Cat Island
  

THE PAST

In 1973, at the same time the Bahamas became an independent country, a small cottage industry was formed by Dick and Rosi Birch of Small Hope Bay Lodge. The idea started when they watched a guest occupy children on a rainy day with a batik craft project. This was a product that they reasoned could be unique, colourful, and 100% Bahamian done. Once the fabric was made, it could be sewn into easy care island garments. This would help employ single women with families, an objective that was especially important to the Birches.

They developed the concept that each yard would be hand done. Every print would symbolize a natural element found in the Bahamas, and all the colours would be colours pulled right from the islands.

Androsia soon grew in popularity to the point that it had to be consolidated, and the production moved from Small Hope Bay Lodge and various local homes to the factory site at Fresh Creek it now occupies.

THE PRESENT

Although much has changed at Androsia from those early days of hand dyeing fabric in tubs under the palm trees, a lot remains the same. Each and every print, from "Schooling Groupers" to "Breadfruit", is still recognizably Bahamian. Every colour still has its origins in the waters, flora and fauna of the Bahamas. Lyford Green is from the beautiful seas off Lyford Cay in Nassau, Shocking Pink is the small line found inside the national flower, the yellow elder, and Cabana Blue is from the boat covers that dot the harbours of Abaco. Every yard is still hand printed and hand dyed and dried under the Bahamian sun.

The factory produces a new line of garments and fabrics each year and frequent visitors to the islands have become Androsia collectors.

All Androsia fabrics are hand batiked and hand dyed so no two yards are exactly alike. After printing the design on 100% natural fibre fabric, the fabric is then hand dyed using some of the finest cold water reactive dyes. When the wax is removed using several baths of 190-degree water, the beautiful white design remains against the vivid background. (During the wax removal process on the fabric, minor shrinkage occurs, so that all finished garments and fabrics are preshrunk!) The fabric is then dried on clothes lines under the Bahamian sunshine.

Androsia presently ships to accounts throughout the capital city of Nassau on New Providence, its large neighbor to the north, Freeport, on Grand Bahama, and all of the inhabited Out Islands of the Bahamas. Visitors to the island soon become Androsia collectors, and say that putting on their Androsia reminds them of warm sunny days in the Bahamas. Many dignitaries and presidents own Androsia, even the Queen of England received a gift of a beautiful piece of Androsia silk during one visit, and most recently, a quilt of colourful Androsia fabrics.

Androsia prints feature shells, birds, fish, and flowers dyed in colours like guava pink, sea green, and aquatide.

If you should find yourself on Andros Island, we would be delighted to give you a tour of our factory at Fresh Creek, Andros. Just stop in, and as we say in our country, "May we be strangers no more"

THE FABRIC

Androsia batik fabric can be ordered by the yard direct from the online shopping cart. The prices are as in the table below. For larger orders of 30 yards or more of Cotton Broadcloth or Voile, 25 yards or more of Mommie Cloth, or 17 yards or more of Canvas, you can make a special order using any colour or design you like.

Androsia uses fabrics of natural fibers. The dyes are especially brilliant, colour-fast, wash-fast, and light-fast. However, our dyes are very susceptible to bleach or whiteners. We have five types of fabric that we keep in stock on a regular basis. Details are as follows:

Light Cotton -- "Voile"
This is a 100% cotton fabric that has a 96 X 96 thread count. It is a very soft light-weight fabric. This comes with a guaranteed width of 39 inches. The minimum special order for this fabric is 30 yards per colour.

Cotton Broadcloth -- "Cotton"
This is a 100% cotton fabric that has a 74 X 76 thread count. This fabric has more substance. This comes with a guaranteed width of 40 inches. The minimum special order for this fabric is 30 yards per colour.

Rayon Broadcloth
This is a heavier weight rayon. This comes with a guaranteed width of 42 inches. The minimum special order for this fabric is 26 yards per colour. Rayon is available as a special order only.

Canvas
This canvas could be considered a duck/denim type weight cloth. This comes with a guaranteed width of 53 inches. The minimum special order for this fabric is 17 yards per colour.

Mommie Cloth
This is a 100% cotton fabric that has a mottled finish. It is a tightly woven fabric commonly used for tablecloths and napkins. This comes with a guaranteed width of 56 inches. The minimum special order for this fabric is 30 yards per colour.

Silk
This is a 100% silk fabric. Silk is available as a special order only.