Batik Fabric Typical of Indonesia

Batik Fabric Typical of Indonesia

Batik is one way of making fabric, the fabric typical of Indonesia . Besides batik can refer to two things . The first is the tec... 05:36

Batik is one way of making fabric, the fabric typical of Indonesia. Besides batik can refer to two things. The first is the technique of coloring cloth using the "malam" to prevent staining in part of the fabric. In the international literature, this technique is known as wax-resist dyeing. The second notion is the fabric or clothing made with these techniques, including the use of certain motives which have peculiarities. 

Indonesian Batik, as the overall engineering, technology, and development-related motives and culture, UNESCO has designated as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since October 2, 2009.

The word "batik" is derived from the combination of two Javanese words "amba", meaning "writing" and "titik" which means "point". In Java, Indonesia, batik predates written records. G. P. Rouffaer argues that the technique might have been introduced during the 6th or 7th century from India or Sri Lanka.[5] On the other hand, JLA. Brandes (a Dutch archeologist) and F.A. Sutjipto (an Indonesian archeologist) believe Indonesian batik is a native tradition, regions such as Toraja, Flores, Halmahera, and Papua, which were not directly influenced by Hinduism and have an old age tradition of batik making. 

Rouffaer also reported that the gringsing pattern was already known by the 12th century in Kediri, East Java. He concluded that such a delicate pattern could only be created by means of the canting. This is like a pen that holds a small reservoir of hot wax. He proposed that the canting was invented in Java around that time. The carving details of clothes wore by Prajnaparamita, the statue of buddhist goddess of transcendental wisdom from East Java circa 13th century CE. The clothes details shows intricate floral pattern similar to today traditional Javanese batik. This suggested intricate batik fabric pattern applied by canting already existed in 13th century Java or even earlier.

In one form or another, batik has worldwide popularity. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in (particularly) Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.

Now, not only is batik used as a material to clothe the human body, its uses also include furnishing fabrics, heavy canvas wall hangings, tablecloths and household accessories. Batik techniques are used by famous artists to create batik paintings, which grace many homes and offices.

In Indonesia, traditionally, batik was sold in 2.25-metre lengths used for kain panjang or sarong for kebaya dress. It can also be worn by wrapping it around the body, or made into a hat known as blangkon. Infants are carried in batik slings decorated with symbols designed to bring the child luck. Certain batik designs are reserved for brides and bridegrooms, as well as their families. The dead are shrouded in funerary batik.[1] Other designs are reserved for the Sultan and his family or their attendants. A person's rank could be determined by the pattern of the batik he or she wore.

For special occasions, batik was formerly decorated with gold leaf or dust. This cloth is known as prada (a Javanese word for gold) cloth. Gold decorated cloth is still made today; however, gold paint has replaced gold dust and leaf.

Batik garments play a central role in certain rituals, such as the ceremonial casting of royal batik into a volcano. In the Javanese naloni mitoni "first pregnancy" ceremony, the mother-to-be is wrapped in seven layers of batik, wishing her good things. Batik is also prominent in the tedak siten ceremony when a child touches the earth for the first time. Batik is also part of the labuhan ceremony when people gather at a beach to throw their problems away into the sea.


In Indonesia there are various kinds of batik depend on each area, such as Java, Bali, Sumatra and Papua. Adna will find so many types of batik in Indoneisa. filled with the beauty of his style that symbolizes certain circumstances.