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WE NEED a space for promotion, education, appreciation, and consolidation for artisans, batik entrepreneurs, cultural communities, academics, the media, the government, and the wider community to work together to maintain the sustainability of authentic Indonesian batik.
According to the chairman of the APPBI (Association of Indonesian Batik Artisans and Entrepreneurs), Dr. Komarudin Kudiya, said amidst the significant challenges facing the national batik industry, Indonesian batik is a national cultural heritage that not only holds economic value but also holds historical, philosophical, and identity values.
“Behind every piece of batik lies a long process involving the craftsmen’s skill, perseverance, taste, and traditional knowledge, from motif creation, to canting, dyeing, and final finishing,” he said.
He explained that in recent years, the sustainability of authentic Indonesian batik has faced serious pressure due to the influx of batik-patterned textiles, batik-patterned fabrics, and imitation batik products mass-produced using modern printing technology.
“These products are often marketed at low prices and use the term ‘batik’ without proper explanation of the production process. “This situation makes it increasingly difficult for people to distinguish between hand-drawn batik, stamped batik, combination batik, and batik-patterned textiles,” he said.
Komarudin continued, explaining that this phenomenon can have a direct impact on traditional batik artisans. Many artisans are experiencing a decline in orders, reduced production, weakened income, and some are even abandoning the batik profession due to their inability to compete with industrially produced batik-patterned textiles. If this situation continues, Indonesia risks losing the guardians of traditional knowledge who have long been the spirit of Indonesian batik.
“We hope to broaden public appreciation for batik, strengthen the artisan market, open up space for creativity for the younger generation, and demonstrate that batik can exist in various forms without losing its traditional roots,” he noted.
Meanwhile, he continued, the involvement of universities is an important indicator that the future of batik requires support from education, design research, innovation, and creativity from the younger generation. APPBI emphasizes that the sustainability of batik cannot be solely the responsibility of artisans. It requires joint support from the government, media, business, educational institutions, cultural communities, creative industry players, and the community. broad.
“The media has a strategic role in conveying accurate information to the public, building collective awareness, and elevating the voices of artisans as guardians of the nation’s cultural heritage,” concluded Komarudin. [traveltext.id/photo special]
