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tep outside today, and you are likely to come face to face with a sea of batik in public spaces nationwide. The colorful parade is in honor of National Batik Day, which marks UNESCO’s recognition of batik as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity” on this date in 2009.

Batik has made remarkable headway on the national fashion front this century, with Indonesian consumers embracing trendier, more modern styles. The once specially designated “batik Fridays” have come and gone: today, every day can be batik day, whether as smart formal attire for the office or casual wear to head to the mall.

Indonesians from all walks of life and ethnicities today claim the Javanese-originated fabric as part of their national pride.

But glimpses of batik on the international stage remain too few and far between. When they do occur – as designs in an international design house’s collection, for instance – there are bound to be ripples of excitement and pride back home.

Foreigners may well have heard the name: it was first recorded in Merriam-Webster dictionary in 1817. And while they may have seen one or two pieces in a museum in London or the Netherlands, or showcased in a magazine’s fashion pages, the beauty, diversity and art of batik remain little known beyond Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

The launch pad to bringing batik to the world may be Batik Day and UNESCO’s recognition of Indonesian batik. That cultural acknowledgement for once and for all put aside any griping about a certain neighboring nation “stealing” Indonesia’s batik heritage. The honor also has placed responsibility on the nation to preserve the heritage of batik, and bring it to the attention of the outside world.

Word is gradually getting out to tell of all batik has to offer.

Batik Keris, a noted batik producer based in Surakarta, Central Java, is partnering with The Walt Disney Company to create colorful batik T-shirts, dresses and shirts for Mickey and his cartoon pals.

The partnership will bring batik to young consumers – and perhaps make a lasting impression.

“Our main goal is to introduce batik to children while at the same time taking the traditional garment to the international stage,” said Heri Santoso from the company’s merchandising division.

Edward Hutabarat is the man acknowledged for spearheading efforts to make batik contemporary in theme without losing its traditions. His Part One label, founded in 2006, puts batik firmly in fashion, while his second label, Part One Edward Hutabarat, focuses on modern but simple designs.

 He shrewdly chooses young, well-known celebrities in his brand campaigns to show that batik is for all generations. Make that for all people, too; his vision is to have it considered acceptable wear for luxury brand-toting fashionista in Tokyo, New York or Paris.

“ Part One batik appropriately matches Rolex watches, Marni sandals, Rayban sunglasses and Celine bags, with the batik still the most stunning item of all,” he said.

While his point is that batik should be able to be worn with other international brands in a globalized world, there are rules to wearing it well. He said it should not be paired with flashy rings, necklaces or bracelets because it would look tacky.

 “When you wear it, less is more. Batik motifs are already extravagant so you shouldn’t add more jewelry. Let the batik speak,” he said.

Choice collection

Web developer Sinta Dhanuwardoyo’s love of batik dates back 17 years, long before it gained its current popularity.

Enchanted by its colors and the painstaking process of creating a piece of batik, she has become a confirmed collector of the fabric.

“As an architect, I find it hard enough to draw on paper, and then I saw batik makers drawing on cloth. Their patience and diligence amazed me.”

She has always preferred cloth over clothes for her collection.

“I simply love them more, I can’t explain why. I can wear the cloth as skirts by wrapping them around my hips, because my body is relatively petite,” Sinta added, laughing.

She said she found all batik intriguing in its uniqueness, but she particularly likes cloth with small, neat motifs – indicating the artisan needed abundant patience and precision to draw them.

“I always buy Limaran batik cloths designed by my friend Insana Habibie because the color and design are different from others. I love them,” she said.

She will also search the Internet for rare finds. Five years ago, she found on eBay a 70-year-old hard-to-get batik with a patch motif from Surakarta. She thought the cloth had already been taken; when she found it was still for sale, she snapped it up to add to her collection.

Tie in

Young designer Didiet Maulana, who works with the traditional woven fabric ikat in his collections, names Edo as one of his mentors and inspirations.

Didiet is convinced that batik can become an international icon in the fashion world. He points to the use of the parang motif by Belgian designer Dries Van Noten in his Spring 2010 ready to wear collection.

 “It proves that the beauty of batik has captured international attention.”

He believes the government must help in promoting batik internationally through devising a savvy marketing package to tell the story of the fabric, similar to Japan’s promotion of the kimono.

Efforts to promote batik may also bring a positive effect for the many other traditional fabrics in Indonesia. Through his design house IKAT Indonesia, Didiet strives to make ikat from eastern Indonesia a popular fashion item and take it to an international audience.

He is marketing his brand locally through socialites who don his designs at public events, and with foreign celebrities for recognition abroad. He realizes social media is also important in the effort.

“Japanese-American musician Monday Michiru is now wearing my clothing line. She loved my collection after seeing it at www.theikatindonesia.com. The website also lets curious people from other countries know what ikat fabric looks like.”