Delegates take home Batik Garutan<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
The heads of the delegations attending the commemorative summit
\nin Bandung went home with more than just a stack of documents on
\nSunday, as they each received a special package containing batik
\nfrom Garut, West Java.<\/p>\n
A total of 106 special gifts containing batik cloth and shirts
\nwere presented by West Java Governor Danny Setiawan to the
\ndelegates during lunch at the Governor's Mansion.<\/p>\n
Popularly known as \"Batik Garutan\", the batik industry and its
\nhandmade designs are a source of pride in West Java, which is
\nonly starting to pull out of recession after being severely
\neffected by the 1997 economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Memet Hamdan, chairman of the West Java Investment Board, said
\nthe commemorative summit would help promote West Java batik on
\nthe international market.<\/p>\n
The popularity of Batik Garutan reached its peak between the
\n1960s and the mid-1980s, with about 126 companies operating in
\nthe small town of Garut, located about 110 kilometers southeast
\nof Bandung.<\/p>\n
The local batik industry all but collapsed in the wake of the
\neconomic crisis, reportedly leaving just three companies still in
\nbusiness by 2000.<\/p>\n
One of the survivors is Uba Sri Musaodah Muharam, whose batik
\nfactory in Garut began producing in 1976. The 54-year-old
\nbusinesswoman received orders to produce batik for the
\ncommemorative summit some three months ago.<\/p>\n
Uba refused to reveal the price of the batik saying only that
\nprice was not the issue given the promotional value involved.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the average price of good quality handmade Batik
\nGarutan ranges from Rp 1.8 million to Rp 8.5 million per item.<\/p>\n
Unlike other traditional batiks from other parts of Java
\nisland, Batik Garutan does not have specific motifs. Many of its
\ndesigns are considered quite contemporary. Its distinctiveness
\nlies in its light colors and the incorporation of motifs from
\nother regions.<\/p>\n
The basic cloth used can consist of various types of material,
\nincluding cotton and Thai silk.<\/p>",
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