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ilacap: Handmade batik produced by small industries in Maos Kidul village, Maos district, Cilacap regency in Central Java, is reportedly sought after by the Japanese market, as thousands of pieces of batik garments produced in the village have been sold to Japan over the past year.

However, batik consignments to Japan have been suspended temporarily since last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

“Due to the current chaotic condition, there have not been any orders for batik from Japan. We understand the reason, but we have continued to increase our stock,” Tonik Sudarmaji, owner of Batik Tulis Rajasamas in Maos, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He said he usually exported around 300 items of batik clothing with special motifs to Japan every month.

“The batik garments that we send to Japan are somewhat different to those sold in this country. The Japanese prefer batik with few and simple motifs, but they must be perfectly made,” Tonik said.

He said his company should have exported batik to Japan this month, but that orders had been suspended as a result of the major disasters there.

“I’m sure that the deliveries will pick up again when the condition in Japan has improved,” he said.

He said that his small factory produced thousands of pieces of handmade batik garments every week for the domestic and overseas markets. Besides Japan, his company also exports products to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, and most major cities in Indonesia. —JP