Celebrating Indonesian Heritage on National Batik Day
Jakarta. To celebrate National Batik Day on Oct. 2, the Indonesian Batik Foundation, or YBI, presents "Pesta Batik Indonesia" pop-up store in Galeries Lafayette Jakarta to showcase batik apparel and accessories.
The pop-up store, which is located on the first, second and third floor of the French department store, was opened on Wednesday (20/09).
"When Unesco included Indonesian batik on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity [list] in 2009, we all felt very proud," YBI chairwoman Jultin Ginandjar Kartasasmita said. "But at the same time, Yayasan Batik Indonesia also felt responsible to develop Indonesian batiks and promote them to the younger generations."
YBI was founded by batik lovers in Jakarta in 1994. Since then, the organization has worked with batik artisans in many different parts of Indonesia to perpetuate and develop the traditional heritage. The organization also organizes various local and international events to promote batik.
In the pop-up store, YBI showcases men's, women's and kids' batik clothing and accessories designed by 15 renowned and up-and-coming batik labels, including [bi], Danar Hadi, Galeri Batik Jawa and Parang Kencana.
"The pop-up store is a token of our love and appreciation of Indonesian batik as cultural heritage," Galeries Lafayette Jakarta marketing head Melissa Ann Tjahjadikarta said.
Fashion Show
The pop-up store opening featured a fashion show.
In the fashion show, Parang Kencana presented its fall/winter 2017 collection themed "Rasasvada," which in Sanskrit means "the taste of bliss in the absence of all thoughts."
The collection features lightly beaded cocktail dresses made of batiks in soft pastel hues.
Batik house Danar Hadi also presented its fall/winter 2017 collection themed "Sasi Kirana" ("muted elegance" in Sanskrit).
The collection features simple, yet charming ready-to-wear batik pieces for men and women.
"I truly appreciate all that YBI has done for Indonesian batiks," Yanti Airlangga, the wife of Indonesia's minister of industry and trade, said after the show. "I believe such collaborations will help to promote batiks and popularize them among the younger generations."
The pop-up store at Galeries Lafayette Jakarta will be open until Oct. 19.
National Batik Day
YBI has also planned a series of attractions for the batik day.
On Sept. 26-29, a batik exhibition will be presented at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry in South Jakarta. It will showcase the collections of 44 batik houses from all over the archipelago.
The peak of the celebrations, "Pesta Batik Nusantara" ("Batik Feast"), will be held during Jakarta's weekly car-free day on Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin, on Sunday, Oct. 1.
"There will be a batik parade on Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin by students and members of the Indonesian Businesswomen Association," National Batik Day 2017 committee chairwoman Gita Pratama said.
The parade will culminate around midday in front of Sarinah Department Store, with a fashion show presenting batik designs by Obin on a vertical runway.
"The runway will be made of a 80-meter-high climbing-wall," Gita said. "Wall-climbers of Mapala UI [the University of Indonesia students organization] will act as models and will showcase Obin's batiks on the vertical runway."
"It will be very interesting for us to see how Obin's precious batiks will be presented in such a modern and unusual setting," Gita said.
Tags: Keywords: