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Indonesia observed the national batik day by conducting several events in the country, aimed at widely constituting the public to further tap great potentialities from batik-related industry that is highly expected to boost the nation's creative economy sector.
The national batik day that falls on Oct. 2 was to commemorate the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognition on batik as an Indonesian traditional culture.
UNESCO enlisted the wax-resist dyeing technique applied to fabric or cloth as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on Oct. 2, 2009.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo warmly welcomed the observance of national batik day, expected batik may give significant contribution to the nation's economy.
He called on people to further develop the craftsmanship to expand batik so as to benefit national economy.
"Keep developing batik as a creative industry that would eventually spur national economy. Happy Batik Day 2016," the president wrote in his twitter account on Sunday.
Events to commemorate the national batik day was held in several areas across the country, intended to further introduce batik to young generation and to business potentialities from batik industry to propel the economy in grass root level.
In Yogyakarta, people held a batik mural art event participated by youngsters on Sunday. They painted walls in public spaces with batik-themed paintings, intended to stimulate youngsters' eagerness on batik thus to beautify the city.
Meanwhile, co-organized by a government ministry, a prominent shopping mall held series of events to further promote batik, participated by students joining in scout organizations and fashion style professional.
In the event entitled "Even yours and mine batik are different, we are still Indonesian", hundreds of those students signed the wall, representing their eagerness and commitments to preserve batik as a form of Indonesian cultural heritage.
The event in the mall was also featured by fashion shows, showcasing modern and casual batik outfits demonstrated by male and female models that walked on catwalks.
With abundant of traditional cultures from its population that come from different tribes, Indonesia has great potentialities that can be tapped from batik industry. Each of the tribes inhabiting in certain areas has their own traditional motifs that can transformed into batik creations with their own styles.
According to the data released by Indonesian industry ministry, Indonesia's batik product has Revealed Comparative Advantage of 1. 4, or higher than the standard number of 1, showing the high competitiveness of the nation's batik industry.
The ministry also learned that most of batik producers in the country, or 99.39 percent, come from micro and small business enterprises.
Batik has now been widely used by Indonesian people as cloth for daily use from the cloth merely used to attend official events or receptions. Most offices operating across the nation obliges their workers to wear batik clothes on Friday each week that makes batik more popular as casual wear.
(APD)
