Batik sellers enjoy a thriving business

Indah Setiawati , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 07/11/2008 10:12 AM | City

A resurgent trend in batik fashion has people of all ages eager to buy the Indonesian fabrics and garments, giving opportunities to hundreds of garment sellers in markets and malls.

Aji Isman, 43, used to sell party gowns imported from China and Hong Kong at his shop Dhiaaz on the first floor of Tanah Abang market's Block A in Central Jakarta. But since last March, the West Sumatran stopped buying the imported dresses and switched his focus to batik shirts and dresses. He hunted down the Indonesian fashions in Cirebon (West Java), Yogyakarta, Pekalongan and Surakarta (Central Java).

"Thank God, batik shirts with any patterns and colors are selling out nowadays," he told The Jakarta Post recently, adding that his profit could triple from his previous trade in party gowns.

The garment trade is not so lucrative for others selling casual clothes in shops near Aji's.

"You can see for yourself that people rarely come to my place," said the owner of Alfa shop, who declined to give his name.

He said business was also quiet for nearby shops, except for those selling batik.

The owner of a small textile company acknowledged that he was tempted to sell batik in his shop but he lacked capital.

"I don't know how long I can stand this situation," he said.

In contrast, Aji was upbeat, and said the batik trend would last at least until next year, and he expected to see more profit.

"Demand will be higher in the coming months, especially before Lebaran," he said, referring to the Idul Fitri holidays that will fall on October 1 and 2.

Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri after the Ramadhan month of fasting. Many Indonesian Muslims celebrate the big days by wearing new clothes and this year the trend is likely to be batik.

Aji sells wholesale and retail batik clothes for women at prices ranging from Rp 50,000 (US$5.40) to Rp 125,000 (US$13.60). The price could be lower if buyers purchase in bulk, or select a minimum of 20 pieces.

Batik in the Tanah Abang market, the biggest wholesale textile market in Southeast Asia, also lures small-scale retailers, including Liskah, 55, who buys dozens of batik items to sell to her neighbors in Palmerah, West Jakarta.

"I found a shop selling trendy batik clothes with low prices," she said happily, displaying a woman's shirt that cost Rp 38,000 (US$4.10).

Mira Malik, an entrepreneur who jumped at the chance to benefit from the trend, said she decided to open a shop in Blok M Square in South Jakarta after learning about the business opportunity.

The wife of choreographer and singer Denny Malik said she went to Laweyan, a famous batik-producing kampung in Surakarta, to buy her wares because she could pick different patterns and have them printed on order.

"I make trendy batik shirts but I also produce batik for state teachers and office workers, thanks to the government's requirement that civil servants wear batik at least once a week," she said.

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