Depok-In the spirit of commemorating National Batik Day, the Arts and Culture Department of the Vocational Public Relations Student Association of the Universitas Indonesia (HM VokHum UI) successfully held the Batik of the Day 2025 event with the theme “Cool Collaboration, Unique Style.” The event, held at the UI Vocational Canteen and the UI Vocational Intraco Room on October 10, 2025, became an opportunity for the younger generation to be creative while fostering awareness of the preservation of Indonesia’s batik cultural heritage.
Through this activity, participants, students of the Public Relations program, were invited to view batik from a fresh perspective: not just as formal wear, but also as part of a modern lifestyle that can be creatively combined with contemporary fashion. Furthermore, the collaborative batik workshop served as a key moment to bring together traditional values and youth creativity, in line with the expressive and innovative spirit of Generation Z.
One of the most anticipated sessions of the event was a talk show with Michael Geraldo, a content creator and batik enthusiast. Michael shared his views on the importance of incorporating batik into the daily lives of young people without feeling awkward. “Wearing batik is a concrete act of showing my love for art and pride in Indonesian culture. Batik is bold and very relevant to the style of today’s youth,” Michael said.
(Photo: The excitement of Public Relations students during the 2025 Batik of the Day activity)
The excitement continued with a batik-patterned tote bag coloring session. Participants were encouraged to express their creativity using watercolors and brushes. The colorful atmosphere and enthusiasm were evident in the unique and diverse works of art produced by the participants. One of the workshop participants, Meycilla, shared her impressions after participating. Meycilla said, “It was so much fun! I learned more about how to combine batik to keep it looking cool and not stiff. Now I’m even more proud to wear batik in my daily activities.”
According to Mareta Maulidiyanti, S.Sos., M.M., Head of the Public Relations Study Program, this activity is also part of the student learning process to implement public relations knowledge in real life. “Annual activities like Batik of the Day not only train students’ communication and managerial skills, but also hone their sensitivity in managing events with high cultural values. This is in line with the learning in the Public Relations study program which emphasizes the importance of collaboration, creativity, and communication strategies that have a positive impact on society,” Mareta said.
(Photo: The atmosphere of the Batik of the Day 2025 activity at the UI Vocational School Canteen)
In addition to being a platform for creative expression, this activity also contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and point 17 (Partnerships for Goals). Through collaboration between students, academics, and creative industry players, this event demonstrates that cultural preservation can be done in an adaptive, inclusive, and broad-based manner for society. Furthermore, the Batik of the Day activity also demonstrates that cultural preservation does not have to be rigid and conventional. Through a fresh, youthful touch, batik now stands as a symbol of identity, creativity, and pride for Generation Z—keeping the nation’s cultural heritage alive amidst the changing times.