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Worldwide 'ikat' artisans, lovers gather in Jakarta
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West Kalimantan's Iban ikat ritual textile. (Courtesy of Perkumpulan Wastra Indonesia/-)
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rtisans, textile experts and ikat (traditional woven fabric) lovers are gathering in Jakarta for the three-day 2019 World Ikat Textiles Symposium (WITS).
The opening ceremony on Friday was officiated by Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, the wife of Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan also attended the event, along with wife Fery Farhati as the chairwoman of the Jakarta chapter of the National Handicraft Council (Dekranasda DKI).
Organized by the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region, the Jakarta event will involve the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (AHPADA), Jakarta Textile Museum, Noesa, Indonesia for Natural Dye (Warlami), Indonesia Traditional Fabric Association (Perkumpulan Wastra Indonesia) and the Indonesia Handicraft Exporter and Producer Association (ASEPHI).
The participants have come from India, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Uzbekhistan, Timor Leste, France and Mexico to celebrate the ikat tradition.
WITS has visited the UK, India, Malaysia and Thailand before coming to Indonesia, one of the important centers for the woven fabric.
"The Indonesian word ikat is now being used worldwide to identify woven fabric, hence Indonesia is the natural choice as this year's host," said Poppy Barkah from Perkumpulan Wastra Indonesia.
"The symposium will educate us on the various traditions of ikat, problems that have affected ikat producers and the effort to preserve the heritage, as well as a place to develop a network among organizations and artisans."
Starting Friday, a string of events will be held until Aug. 25 at the Textile Museum and Hotel Santika Premiere Slipi in Jakarta.
Experts, artisans and activists will speak at the three-day symposium, covering issues from the efforts to protect the authenticity of ikat to innovations to make ikat more appealing to younger people.
The traveling exhibition of international textiles which has visited other host countries, will stay at Textile Museum for two weeks.
The museum will also host workshops and a bazaar from Aug. 23 to 25. The workshop on Saturday is open to the public.
A gala dinner and fashion show will present the works of Indonesian designers Didi Budiardjo, Torajamelo, Noesa, Ofie Laim and La Salle College.
They will share the stage with Indian designer Gunjan Jain, Lucia Catanes from the Philippines, Malaysian Melinda Oemar, Umarova Markhamatkon from Uzbekistan and Thai designers Meechai Taesujariya and Siam Crafts. (ste)
