Chic:  A model presents a sky-blue kebaya with soft pink floral motifs for the young.

Amid the rising popularity of batik, Jakarta is making its entrance by introducing a selection of its unique flora and fauna as the city'€™s new batik identity.

The flora and fauna of Jakarta and its surrounding areas have almost been forgotten in the hectic way of life of the city.

Responding to the situation, Jakarta handicraft council (Dekranasda), led by the Jakarta Governor'€™s wife Veronika Tan, has been working rigorously with many designers and brands to promote the movement.

One of the country'€™s leading batik makers, Danar Hadi, is one of them.

In a fashion show, held at the 48th annual Women'€™s International Club Charity Bazaar at Jakarta Convention Center on Wednesday, Danar Hadi showcased its latest collection, called Smara Chintya Puspanagri, which translates as '€œThe Love for Jakarta'€™s Flora and Fauna'€.

'€œDekranasda contacted us for this project. And this collection is the form of our support for the promotion of the new identity of Jakartan batik,'€ said Danar Hadi'€™s managing director Diana Santosa.

The flora motifs featured in the collection include Melati Gambir Jasmine; Sirih Kuning (Yellow Betel Vine); Nona Makan Sirih, popular as a decorative house garden plant in Jakarta; Bungur flower, a compound of white, pink and purple colors that can be found all along Jalan Bungur in Central Jakarta; Kerak Nasi that grows in Rawa Belong in Old Jakarta and Tapak Dara.

The fauna motifs include Elang Bondol (Brahminy Kite) bird, which is the official mascot of Jakarta; Pied Fantail bird; butterflies of Papilio Helena that can be found in abundance at the butterfly resort in the Thousand Islands National Park and Bulus freshwater turtle that used to be plentiful in the Pesanggrahan River in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.

The show began with a parade of outfits in bright colors, such as orange, yellow, red, green and blue.

The first part of the show offered batik cloth that was wrapped in midi and maxi bottoms, featuring stripes combined with various flora and fauna motifs.

Danar Hadi also presented floral motifs as embroideries detailing the kebaya with sleeves of various lengths.

In the next session, Danar Hadi showcased a more casual collection that was rich in geometrical designs.

A two-tone shift dress, cropped top with rhombus patterns that was paired with striped culottes, cape top with slits on the sleeve were all enriched by an attractive application of flora and fauna motifs in the designs.

'€œIt'€™s our style to mix and match patterns, and these flora and fauna motifs can look good too if combined with our geometrical patterns,'€ Diana said.

In the final part, Danar Hadi teamed up with renowned designer Priyo Oktaviano to create a hand-drawn batik collection that was mostly made of silk.

A cropped blazer, dress with butterfly sleeves, peplum top, cropped blazer, A-line skirt, culottes and tunic dress were part of this collection.

The application of beads and sequins in some parts did not make the clothes that featured big motifs look too flashy, but instead added an elegant touch to their overall look.

Already influenced by centuries-old brightly colored flora motifs as the heritage of Chinese, Arab, Malay and Dutch cultures, the whole collection has given an all new spirit to the colorful arts and cultural life of Jakarta.

'€” Photo by JP/Don

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