Depok-In order to commemorate National Batik Day, the UI Public Relations Vocational Student Association (HM VOKHUM UI) held a series of Batik Of The Day activities on October 3, 2024. This activity aims to celebrate, preserve, and introduce the richness of batik culture as one of Indonesia’s cultural heritages. Not only that, the event invites the younger generation to get to know the various motifs and philosophies of batik, as well as support the local batik industry and craftsmen.
The Batik Of The Day activity has become an annual agenda and is entering its fourth year in 2024 with the theme “Talking With Batik”. Through the tagline “Embracing Digitalization, Connecting Tradition”, the event was also enlivened by the Batik Of The Day competition through photo uploads on Instagram, talk shows, workshops, and fashion shows.
The series of activities opened with a talk show by Monique Hardjoko, founder of Rasa Wastra Indonesia. Monique discussed the importance of preserving batik as a traditional art work that is full of meaning. “Batik is not just a cloth, but also a process that tells the story of Indonesia’s journey,” said Monique.
(Photo: Monique explains how to use batik cloth to make fashionable clothes)
Monique also explained various batik-making techniques, from canting tulis, tie-dye or jumputan, stamp, colet, to pendulum. Monique emphasized that authentic batik is batik made by hand, not by machine. In addition, Monique also introduced various types of batik, such as inland batik, coastal batik, contemporary batik, and Indonesian batik in general, and explained the differences between these motifs.
Not only that, Monique also discussed batik in the era of globalization. According to her, modernization has positive and negative influences on batik in Indonesia. “The positive influence is that batik is increasingly known to the wider community, including internationally. While the negative influence is that batik can be eroded by time because it is considered less modern. In fact, batik can follow the development of the times as long as its characteristics and traditions are not carried away. Lately, many wastra communities have emerged among young people, one of which is Rasa Wastra Indonesia,” said Monique.
(Photo: One of the students is shown wearing batik in various styles)
Head of the Public Relations Study Program, Mareta Maulidiyanti, S.Sos., M.M., said that the Batik Of The Day event is one of the implementations of classroom learning in the form of organizing an event. Mareta said, “Through activities like this, students learn to conduct research, plan an event, and carry out various evaluations during the event. In addition, this event is also a form of support from the younger generation to preserve Indonesia’s rich culture, one of which is batik.”
The activity continued with a workshop session. Monique demonstrated how to wear batik cloth with various unique and interesting models. Several students were appointed as models to practice how to wear batik in front of the workshop participants. The next session, which was also the closing session, was a fashion show. Several students who acted as models showed their batik appearance, ranging from a fairly minimalist appearance to a fairly eccentric batik appearance. This session successfully showed that there are many unique ways to wear batik. In addition, batik can be a complement to be combined with a modern and contemporary appearance.
