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Hanging by a thread: Local producer strives to save fate of Batang batik
Among the abundant batik motifs of Central Java, Batang regency has its very own, one of the most famous of which is the "batik tiga negara" (batik of three countries), a motif that has seen its glory days but is now nearing extinction.
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Batang batik is known for its unique color scheme of red, navy and brown, which were originally made from natural dyes. (Kompas.com/Muhammad Irzal Adiakurnia)
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mong the abundant batik of Central Java, Batang regency has its very own style, one of the most famous of which is the "batik tiga negara" (batik of three countries), a form that has seen its glory days but is now nearing extinction.
The batik that traces its origins to Kalipucang Wetan village, Batang regency, uses a distinctive color scheme of red, navy and brown, with the red deriving from coastal Chinese motifs. On the bottom edge, the batik features decorative lace as an influence from the European colonial era.
There are 24 basic motifs in Batang batik that artisans inherited from their elders, including pelo ati, gendangan, benji tambal, kotak kitir, sigar kupat, kawung jenggot, ila ili and klasem.
One of the oldest forms of batik in Central Java, Batang batik is currently facing a shortage of artisans to carry on the trade. The area previously had four batik production centers, whereas now there is only one: Batik Rifa’iyah. Miftakhutin, the proprietress of Batik Rifa’iyah, said that only 87 active batik artisans lived in her village, and almost all of them were in their 30s, with just one 18-year-old.
“In Batang, batik-making is seen as a job for women. There were never any men who made batik,” she said on Wednesday as quoted by KompasTravel.
In the past, Batang batik reached customers and collectors in locations as far and wide as Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos and Europe. It caught the eyes of foreigners due to its natural dyes, which is extremely rare these days.
“Currently we only use synthetic dyes because if we used natural dyes, it will take more time, and it’s more expensive to use natural dyes,” said Miftakhutin.
Read also: Hotel Tugu Malang runs contemporary Batik exhibition
The batik’s decline started in the early 2000s, when the batik centers closed down one by one. “The youth today, they don’t want to be batik artisans anymore because they think it takes a long time to sell batik. Back in my day, it was compulsory for women to be able to make a batik fabric for her husband, so we were trained even before elementary school,” she said.
“To make an original Batang batik motif takes six months, while there are people who make one batik per month,” she added. Miftakhutin is certain that if the decline in artisans continues, Batang batik will see its demise in 10 years
With a strong will to preserve and save the Batang batik from extinction, Miftakhutin gathered Batang batik artisans in the Tunas Cahaya business group.
“We managed to get 30 people in regeneration. Our activities include making batik together and going on exhibition tours together when we are invited, forming our own savings and loans scheme, naming the motifs and a lot more,” said Miftakhutin.
The Batang administration has also added batik-making as an extracurricular activity for elementary schools in line with Miftakhutin’s efforts to save the Batang batik. Several government offices also require its employees to wear kebaya (traditional blouse) paired with a batik sarong as formal dress.
Miftakhutin hopes to obtain assistance to train the batik artisans in innovating creative products.
“We are waiting for Bekraf [Creative Economy Agency], which has stated they will hold training to make products from Batang batik, so they will not take too long to sell,” she said, adding that the new batik products would help market Batang batik to major cities like Jakarta. (asw)
