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After 10 years of revival, batik continues to charm the youth
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Handmade: A batik craftswoman blows the tip of her 'canting', a tool used to paint patterns on batik fabrics, at her workshop. (JP/Sigit Pamungkas)
This year's celebration of National Batik Day will be bigger than ever.
Indonesia’s best-known traditional fabric, batik, has become increasingly popular in the past 10 years.
It was the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that made batik popular among contemporary Indonesian society with its decision to recognize the fabric as a “Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” on Oct. 2, 2009.
Prior to that day, the popularity of batik among Indonesians had been in decline. Many young Indonesians at the time considered the fabric outdated and only suitable to be worn by old people.
Following UNESCO’s recognition, the Indonesian government named Oct. 2 National Batik Day. The fabric also gets special recognition every Friday since 2009, as the government and batik enthusiasts have been calling on the public to wear batik at their workplaces on Fridays.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Batik Day.
The head of the 2019 National Batik Day organizing committee, Diana Santosa, said the celebration this year would be bigger than in previous years.
