indONEsia: CENTRAL JAVA BATIK TOURISM

SURAKARTA BATIK TOUR

Danar Hadi Batik Museum
Depart from the hotel to visit Danar Hadi Batik Museum. A wide range of batik design, from time to time, and from west to east are displayed. Experience also the process of batik making, and shop batik till you drop.

Kampoeng Batik Laweyan (Laweyan Batik Village)Kampoeng Batik Laweyan is an old village which has old Dutch architectural buildings. Walking through its narrow alley which is typical of kampoeng in Indonesia will surely impress you. This village is also the center of Batik production. Take a short hour batik course and we can take home our creation as souvenir. Visit house to house to find your favorite batik souvenirs. Bargaining is possible to get a reasonable price.

Kampoeng Batik Kaoeman (Kaoeman Batik Village)Kampoeng Batik Kauman is another batik village. It is a must place to visit especially for batik freak.

Surakarta Batik

PEKALONGAN BATIK TOUR

Pekalongan is known for its batik. The dyed fabric is produced both by hand in small-scale shops, and printed in larger factories. A mainstay of the economy, the industry collapsed during Indonesia's economic crisis in 1998, but it has partially recovered since. Pattern and typical colour of Pekalongan batik have made easily recognized.

On the border of North Java, batik is called "batik pesisiran". Historically, there are three types of batik pekalongan. The first ones, is local batik. It is made by using local style. The pattern doesn't refer to princes' rule, but it takes market progress by using the product sold out quickly.

The second one is "batik encim". It design is originated from China, and can be defined in 3 categories. The pattern is based on "buketan accessories," china culture, and various paintings. The third one is "batik londo" made in Holland whose accessories were a Dutch culture.

These tree batiks are improved each other and it has their own customer. Among them, it is admitted that local batik is oldest even though it is unknown when and who the batik maker is. Generally it had existed before China and Dutch trader came. The glory period of pekalongan batik occurred around 1850: Elyza Van Zuylen product, Oey Soen King, until by the time of World War II, the product of Mrs. Sastromulyono was also known.

Pekalongan batik that had been produced in 1942-1945 appeared after World War II when Japan occupied Indonesia. Thus, Indonesia trade in cooperation with Dutch was over. So did unbleached plain cloth and dye trade. It led the lack of supply. If any, the price was too expensive. In this period, the batik producer made a new one. It was more sophisticated and made by implementing "Padat Karya system (Work full system). The purpose was to make slower and not lose of employees. Unexpectedly, it brought a great impact. Batik Java Hokokai was known then.

1980- 1997 was a critical situation, then they produced silk batik and batik recovered step by step and the customer increased their demands. In 1999, they applied batik in wholesale. It had an intention to access bigger market and to make closer to the customer as well as create pekalongan become "kota batik or batik city". Nowadays, there are around 4 wholesale in Pekalongan: Setono, Gamer, MM, Pantura.