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NBA player Justin Holiday proud to wear Indonesian batik
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he Indonesian consul general in Chicago, Meri Binsar Simorangkir, gifted a batik ensemble to Atlanta Hawks NBA player Justin Holiday in Milwaukee, the United States after the match between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Holiday then uploaded his photos and videos wearing the batik pieces on his Instagram account @justholla7, where he appears to be very impressed by the pattern, quality and model of the clothes, which were custom-made to match his towering height of 1.98 meters.
The batik ensemble is a collaboration between the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago, batik designers Ai Syarif and Wahono, as well as Holiday, which started in November 2021.
The batik is the work of one of the winners of the Indonesia-US Friendship Batik Competition entitled “The Best of Both Worlds: Batik as a Bridge Between Two Nations.” Titled Chakra Asih Pinager Lung, the batik pieces represent wisdom, love, wisdom and knowledge.
The Indonesian consul general noted that the gifting of the batik was not the final objective, but rather a step to continue promoting Indonesia in the US.
"By providing batik to be worn by a well-known NBA player, the message about Indonesia will be able to reach an audience that has never been reached before," he said.
"We don't only want Justin Holiday to wear batik, but we also want Justin Holiday to come to Indonesia, take a vacation in Bali and also meet basketball lovers in Indonesia."
Designer Ai Syarif recounted how the batik process took place, which started when the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago contacted him to be a judge for the batik competition.
“Then, we worked together to produce batik whose motifs were Mas Wahono's creations. The process took approximately four months. After the pattern was finished, I started by making a stamp tool in Bangka Belitung. The batik was made in Lasem, Rembang," he said.
Ai Syarif also adapted batik to Holiday's personal style, which ultimately led to the production of not a traditional shirt, but an overcoat, a bomber jacket and training pants, which were all handcrafted.
Batik designer Wahono expressed his gratitude for this rare opportunity. "I feel very honored that my batik motif can be a bridge between Indonesia and the United States’ friendship," he said.
Meanwhile, Holiday said that he was honored and proud to wear Indonesian batik.
“I'm an NBA player, so I know what it's like to have fans. But I have never received as much love as the love given by the Indonesian people," he said.
Justin also said that going to Bali was one of his biggest desires. “It's always been on my bucket list! Because of that, one day I will definitely come to Indonesia, even participate in a basketball showcase.”
Holiday also credited Rocky Padillah from Time Out Indonesia as the person who first introduced Indonesia to him. "Rocky and the Indonesian people have treated me well, so I really want to repay and show my love and gratitude to Indonesia."
The story of the batik has also entered the radar of the Foreign Ministry, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, and the Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno, all of whom have uploaded videos and photos of batik to their Instagram accounts.
In addition, Ai Syarif plans to develop the batik into a capsule collection, an indication that the batik story will continue.
