Can Batik be as popular as Jeans??

Friday, 2 October 2009, Batik has been recognized as Intangible Cultural

Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This admission lasted from September 3rd,
2008 then accepted by UNESCO at January 9th, 2009. Next stage was “Closed
Testing” in Paris from 11 until 14 May 2009. And finally, it was ended by
admission that Batik now is one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
So, is this admission become a beginning of Batik to be known as international
fashion like Jeans??

Background
Batik is one of the Indonesian’s unique culture cause although other country like
Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Iran have batik too, but Indonesia has
the most various motives and design of batik. Even, Indonesian Batik is the most
popular batik in the world.
Besides its beatiful motives and color, actually Batik refletcs Indonesian positive
cultures like dilligence, independent, businessman, and creativity. Make Batik is
something that has to do dilligently and seriously. To produce a sheet of Batik
material is needed consistency, patience, with high accuracy. These things teach
us to be diligent and patient to reach our dreams and aspirations.
Batik also teach us independent culture cause all material that needed to make
batik are from domestic materials.
Batik tradition is a heredity occupation. Long ago, batik was a home industry.
Every house in Solo and Jogja has its own batik industry. Usually woman handles
the production of Batik material and man handles the marketing. Material to make
batik such as cotton or silk material, traditional spinning machine, ‘canting’, up to
chemicals that necessary in Batik production was made by theirself and they
didn’t import it from other country. Batik made national-economy rises. There’s
no unemployment at that time.
But now started to be weak cause Indonesian Batik is threatened by Chinese Batik
that made by machine and sold by easier price. And also claime on “Parang Rusak
motive” by Malaysia. But actually the case is Parang Rusak is Indonesian’s
motive.
How do we face this reality? How to defend batik from that attacks?
How to make Indonesian Batik popular and be international fashion like jeans?

Content
Actually, struggle for batik has begun at 2005 at Pekalongan. Mayor of
Pekalongan socialize every civil servant (in Indonesia : PNS) and student to wear
batik two times a week. Then, built “Pekalongan Batik Museum” by Batik
community that authenticated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. And
then continued with event “International Batik Week”. Since this event, existence
of Batik begin to develop dinamicly.
Beside that, in marketing side, there also “Batik Wholesales Market” and
“Kauman Batik Village”. In education side, there are Vocational Schools of Batik
that teach Batik formally and in common school there is local-content like Batik.
Government and local government has held many programs to promote Batik.
And I think, all these programs are effective to conserve Batik culture to young
generation and promote Batik to international zone. But, are that efforts enough??
I don’t think so cause if these programs are not supported by all of Indonesian
people, how it will be realized?? The most important element of a country is
society. A program called success if this program running in every part of
country.
Something necessary is our awareness to conserve and to promote Batik Culture.
Take care of it so that this culture is not claimed and attacked by other countries.
What can we do to make it success?? As a little step is try to love Batik by wear it
in our daily activities. We don’t need to be shy to wear Batik cause the motive is
beautiful and creative. Don’t be afraid we will be called as old-fashioned cause
now Batik is available in many kinds and design of clothing and it follows age
development.
If we often to wear Batik, world will know that Indonesian people loves Batik and
Batik is really Indonesian’s culture. Batik will be popular all over the world. And
the marketing of Batik expanse to other countries from many continents like
America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
If that things come true, we can see batik Indonesia everywhere like we see jeans.
What a proud!

Summary
Batik is beautiful, creative and precious. Indonesian Batik is popular all over the
world, but now started to be weak cause claime and attack from other countries.
Government has carry on many efforts like built Batik Museum, Batik Wholesales
Market, and Batik Village. Government also hold events like International Batik
Week. And as the top of government effort is Batik is now recognized as
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
But many kinds of programs like that are not enough to conserve and promote
Batik if Indonesian people do not make it success too.
We as citizen of Indonesia has to struggle it so Batik Indonesia can survive in
competition with other countries’ product.
As a little step we can start it by try to love Batik. We can wear Batik in our daily
activities. We reduce our habbits to wear jeans, and all of wear that made and
affected by foreigner. That is an easy way and everyone can do that. So, what are
you waiting for? Wear Batik now!

Supported source :
http://www.antara.co.id/berita/1254405868/presiden-akan-deklarasikan-
pengukuhan-batik-oleh-unesco
http://news.okezone.com/read/2009/10/02/58/261882/batik-dan-budaya-positif-
bangsa

Name : Clara Hetty Primasari

Class : B
NIM : 090705844