Pekalongan-Batik-Festival<\/p>\n
JP\/17\/BATIK<\/p>\n
Pekalongan promotes batik through festival<\/p>\n
Suherdjoko
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Pekalongan<\/p>\n
As many as 1,000 women, all batik artisans, were sitting on small
\nseats, forming a human line along Jl. Diponegoro, the street that
\nsurrounds the ex-residency office in Pekalongan municipality,
\nlast Friday.<\/p>\n
In their right hands they held canting -- small dippers used
\nto apply wax in batikmaking -- while their left hands held the
\nsame single piece of a 1,000-meter-long white cotton cloth. A
\nsmall stove with a container containing boiling wax was placed
\nbeside each of the artisans.<\/p>\n
Skillfully, they applied the hot wax to the cloth, painting
\ndifferent batik motifs on it. Yes, they were making a 1,000-meter
\nbatik and were attempting to break the record for the longest
\nbatik ever made in a single day. They started at six in the
\nmorning and had to finish at four in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
Called Batik On The Road, the program was part of the four-day
\nPekalongan Batik Festival held last week from Sept. 15 through
\nSept. 18. The festival was held for the first time in 2003.<\/p>\n
The compound of the ex-Pekalongan Residency Office next to
\nJetayu Square (or Simpang Lima as it is also popularly called)
\nwas the venue for the festival. Various programs, ranging from
\nbatik exhibitions, talks, seminars and fashion shows were
\nconducted during the festival.<\/p>\n
A VW Beetle and a scooter covered with batik motifs were also
\ndisplayed at the compound. Also no less attractive was the giant
\nbatik kebaya shirt hung on a tree. Measuring 8.8 meters high and
\n5.4 meters wide, and with sleeves 5.8 meters long, the giant
\nshirt was adorned with kipas batik motifs.<\/p>\n
\"We needed a month and spent Rp 10 million to make it,\" batik
\nproducer Rusdiyanto, who was also the initiator of the giant
\nshirt, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Visiting the festival, one indeed could learn much about how
\nbatik has developed over time. Traditionally only used for a long
\ncloth locally known as jarik, it is now used to make shirts,
\nskirts, and even home decorations.<\/p>\n
The motifs, too, that initially only depicted animals or
\nplants, have now expanded to include almost anything.<\/p>\n
Through the fashion show that was held at the Kajen Hall in
\nPekalongan regency, people could see for themselves how elegant
\nbatik fashion could be. Introduced into the Javanese community in
\nthe 17th century, batik has indeed already gone international.<\/p>\n
Through the dialog on Batik Fashion Trend 2006 presented by
\nnoted fashion designer Poppy Dharsono, people had the opportunity
\nto ask many questions about batik fashions. Another renowned
\nfashion designer, Iwan Tirta, was also invited to talk about
\nbatik at an international seminar held during the festival.<\/p>\n
All the activities were held in a bid to promote Pekalongan as
\na batik center; as a place that was well worth visiting by batik
\nlovers from around the globe.<\/p>\n
\"We want to make Pekalongan famous because of its batik. We
\nwant to make people remember Pekalongan whenever they talk about
\nbatik,\" said chairman of the festival's organizing committee Romi
\nOktabirawa, adding that batik so far had always been associated
\nwith Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Madura and Cirebon.<\/p>\n
In fact, he said, Pekalongan batik had its own specific
\ncharacter, especially because it had no ties with the tradition
\nof a palace like that of Yogyakarta or Surakarta. As such, the
\nornaments of Pekalongan batik were quite varied and free. The
\ncolors, too, were much brighter and stronger.<\/p>\n
\"They're not only dominated by brown, black, or gray, but also
\nbright red, green, blue, orange, yellow, and others, making
\nPekalongan batik very specific compared to others,\" Romi, who is
\nalso a batik producer, explained.<\/p>\n
What was concerning, however, was that although the marketing
\nof Pekalongan batik had reached the international market, most of
\nthe batik producers in Pekalongan were recognized more as
\nsuppliers. They did not have direct access to the global market.<\/p>\n
\"Through the festival, therefore, we want to attract buyers to
\ncome directly to Pekalongan. That will make it possible for batik
\nproducers here to make direct transactions with buyers,\" Romi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Khumaidun of Madoong Batik Natural Style agreed, saying that
\nthrough direct transactions the price would be much better for
\nthem. So far, he said, it was mostly brokers who controlled the
\nprice of their batik products.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that by encouraging buyers to come to Pekalongan and
\nmake direct transactions with us, we will make better profits
\ncompared to that of indirect transactions through brokers,\" said
\nKhumaidun.<\/p>\n
Pekalongan is actually well-known locally as one of Central
\nJava's batik centers apart from Surakarta and Sragen. Of the 344
\ncompanies in Pekalongan, some 80 percent are batik companies.<\/p>\n
Many efforts have been made to promote Pekalongan batik. Among
\nthem was the establishment of a wholesale center on Jl. Kali
\nBanger in Setono in 2000, with 46 batik stores. Here people can
\nbuy batik products at a relatively cheap price.<\/p>\n
However, most of the producers still find it difficult to
\npenetrate the international market, mostly due to lack of
\nknowledge.<\/p>\n
\"Most of us do not understand the concept of, for example, an
\nLC (letter of credit). Most of us prefer to have cash-and-carry
\ntransactions,\" said Rusdiyanto, expressing hope that the festival
\nwould make Pekalongan more popular among potential buyers.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee noted that some 185 observers from
\nMalaysia, Canada, Germany and Japan visited the festival this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
This has been seen as a \"fresh breeze\" for the batik industry
\nin the region.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pekalongan-batik-festival-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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