BATIK EXPO, FASHION SHOW HIGHLIGHTS OF BATIK DAY by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 2, 2014 (Antara) - Many Indonesians proudly wore clothes made of Batik on October 2, designated as National Batik Day in the country since 2009.

        The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO's) included batik in its list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" items in 2009.   
    Indonesia's Batik along with the Tango of Argentina and Uruguay, the traditional Ainu dance of Japan, and France's Aubusson tapestries, were among the 76 elements included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on September 30, 2009.

         "The techniques, symbolism, and culture surrounding hand-dyed cotton and silk garments known as Indonesian Batik permeate the lives of Indonesians from beginning to end. Infants are carried in batik slings decorated with symbols designed to bring the child luck, and the dead are shrouded in funerary batik," is how Indonesian Batik has been described in UNESCO's list.

         First Lady Ani Yudhoyono delivered a speech during the peak commemoration of National Batik Day held at the industry ministry's hall in Jakarta, Thursday (October 2, 2014).

         "I am happy because there has been resurgence of batik producers throughout the country, particularly in the Batik producing regions," the First Lady said.

         She has noticed many young people earned their living by making Batik paintings with various designs in cities like Pekalongan, Surakarta (Central Java), Yogyakarta, Sidoarjo and Madura (East Java),  along with Tasikmalaya and Cirebon (West Java), which are recognized as major Batik producing centers, she said.

         She was also very glad that students right from elementary schools to senior high schools have started to learn how to paint Batik designs.

         "President SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and I have paid special attention to the younger generation of Batik makers," she stated.

         Since 2010, the President and First Lady have initiated an annual Batik design competition for students. The results showed that their designs were as good as those made by professionals, and some were even better, she said.

         This year, to highlight the Batik Day commemoration, the industry ministry and the Foundation of Indonesian Batik organized, "The Seventh Exhibition of Batik as Cultural Heritage", from September 30 to October 3, 2014.

         Ancient batiks dating back to the sultanate of Ngayokyakarta Hadiningrat, Pura Pakualaman, Pura Mangkunagaran and Surakarta Hadiningrat were also on display during the expo.

        The ancient batiks were from the collections of batik lovers, ten of which belonged to the Foundation of Indonesian Batik, Chairperson of the expo, Rosati Kadarisma, noted. The expo saw the participation of 54 batik producers.

         The highlight of the event was a fashion show called "Batik on Fashion" exclusively featuring batik clothing from eight prominent designers launched at an event called to commemorate National Batik Day.

         "Batik on Fashion aims to encourage the public, especially the youth, to develop and preserve traditional batik's patterns," the Indonesian Batik Foundation (YBI)'s Chairperson Yultin Ginanjar Kartasasmita said during the launch of the fashion show.

         Batik on Fashion's theme this year was "Sogan, a Classic Art of Batik". In Indonesia, Sogan batik is dominated by a classic pattern and brown color. The name "sogan" was taken from a tree whose wood is used as a natural dye for batik clothes.

         With regard to the classic patterns, Yultin explained that it referred to the Javanese palaces. "We are displaying 27 sogan batik clothes, designed by some famous batik production houses, including Danar Hadi, Djongko Rahardjo, Joko  SSP and Ayok Dwi Pancara along with Wicaksono Aji, and Parang Kencana," Yultin mentioned.

         Coinciding with the fashion show and the 20th anniversary of the Indonesian Batik Foundation, the YBI launched a magazine named "Batik on Fashion" to encourage the preservation and improvement of batik, especially among the younger generation and public.

         "This is the first edition of the magazine that has been published to support the preservation and enhancement of batik. The magazine, which is published in the Indonesian language, specifically targets the young generation and the public," Yultin stated.

         In a separate National Batik Day event, president-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi) launched a "Tribute to Batik 2014" expo held at Pasaraya Blok M, South Jakarta.

         "Pak Jokowi personally kicked off the event resembling traditional Klewer Batik market in Solo, as if the Klewer market had moved to Pasaraya," President Director of Pasaraya Medina Latief said in Jakarta, on October 3, 2014.    
    Pasaraya's Tribute to Batik 2014 organized from September 27 to November 2, 2014, features the best collection of Batik from Solo, Yogyakarta, Cirebon, Pekalongan and Pesisir, produced by 80 Batik traders.

         Jokowi, in his remarks, called on Indonesian ambassadors to carry out trade diplomacy to promote and market products of Indonesia's small and medium scale enterprises such as Batik clothes.

         Batik exports from Indonesia increased significantly from US$32 million in 2008 to US$300 million in 2013.

          "The United States, Germany and South Korea are the primary destinations of batik exports," Director General of the Ministry of Industry Argo Panggah Susanto said recently.

             As the demand for batik in international markets is high, the government intended to protect the intellectual property rights of batik makers to guarantee competition in the trade.

             "The ministry has provided batik makers with protection by giving them trademarks, patent rights, trade confidentiality and industrial designs," Susanto stated. ***2***
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