Kendal Batik Crafters Are Waiting for the Launch of Kendal's Special Batik

Wiji Kendal Batik Works Are Popular with Employees

In Kendal Regency, there are quite a lot of home batik craftsmen. However, until now Kendal batik is not widely known nationally.

Wiji Astuti, the owner of Griya Batik Wiji hopes that Kendal's typical batik motifs can be patented. Thus, it will become a characteristic or identity of Kendal batik.

"My hope is that Kendal's typical batik can be patented, so that it becomes the identity of Kendal batik," he hoped.

Griya Batik Wiji in Lanji Village, Patebon District is one of the batik craftsmen in Kendal that is quite developed. Its batik production is still stable, so it must be assisted by several workers who are skilled in batik.

Griya Batik Wiji, in addition to making hand-drawn batik, also produces stamped batik. The production of stamped batik is to serve orders at economical prices.

Wiji said that in addition to batik production, it also provides batik training. The demand for batik training is not only in the Kendal area. I have also been invited to batik training outside Java, such as Sumatra and Papua. "Those who want to practice batik can also do so here," he said.

Wiji said that so far, batik orders have been limited to government agencies and private offices. There are also many orders from organizations and schools. "Usually, those who order batik are for uniforms," he concluded.

Kendal Batik Crafters Are Waiting for the Launch of Kendal's Special Batik

The Kendal Trade, Cooperatives and SMEs Service (Disdagkop and UKM) held a Kendal Special Batik Training. The participants were batik craftsmen fostered by Disdagkop and UKM together with PKK. The training was held for three days at the Kendal PLUT Building, from Tuesday to Thursday (30/3/2023).

Lytria Wandwiati, Head of Micro Business Empowerment at Disdagkop and UKM Kendal said that this training was attended by 25 batik craftsmen. The reason is, this batik training focuses on creating Kendal's signature batik, with a combination of kendil and kendal leaf patterns. "These participants are batik artisans to work together to create Kendal batik patterns," she said.

Lytria said, this Batik training was a follow-up after the creation of Kendal batik patterns, and five patterns were selected. However, two patterns were taken, namely a combination of kendil and Kendal leaf motifs. "This combination of patterns will be submitted to the Chairperson of Dekranasda Kendal, to be selected as Kendal's signature batik," she explained.

Batik trainer, Wiji Astuti said, there are five Kendal batik designs or patterns that have been made. Five Kendal's signature batik patterns, namely old batik, wong Kendal batik, Majapahit batik, kendal leaf batik and kendil batik. "These batik patterns are made, then the most suitable one is chosen," he said.

Wiji hopes that if it has been determined as Kendal's signature batik, it will be used as a batik uniform among Kendal ASN. Therefore, from this training, it is expected that batik artisans in Kendal can focus on making typical Kendal batik designs. "The typical Kendal batik can be used as ASN batik uniforms, and can be ordered from batik artisans in Kendal," he said.

Cultural Festival Opened with Kendal Batik Fashion Show

The Bhinneka Cultural Festival held at the Pantai Indah Kemangi (PIK) tourist attraction in Jungsemi Village, Kangkung District, Kendal Regency, was opened with a Kendal batik fashion show, Friday (15/9/2023). The fashion show presented by Sinok Sinang, the Kendal Tourism Ambassador, showcased batik clothing created by Kendal batik artisans.

This fashion show was interesting and unique because it was held in an open space on the beach. The sound of the waves and the gusts of wind blowing the pine trees on the beach added to the atmosphere. Kodim 0715/Kendal, as the organizer, not only invited the Kendal Regent and the Forkopimda ranks, but also presented a national artist, Eros Jarot from Jakarta.

According to Kendal Regent Dico M Ganinduto, this activity was very interesting because it could combine tourism with culture. This is like tourism in Bali which can progress because it is combined with culture. "Three important elements to advance tourism are combining tourism with culture and the support of the entire community, hopefully this activity can provide benefits to the community, especially the people of Kendal Regency," he said.

Eros Jarot appreciated the head of the Kendal Dandim who put culture as a foothold in developing Kendal Regency. The reason is, things like this are usually forgotten, especially when entering a political year where everything is focused on politics. By holding this cultural activity, the atmosphere feels cool. "Hopefully a cool atmosphere like this will continue to be carried even without being influenced by political activities," he hoped.

The event, which is the first in Kendal, will be held for three days, from September 15 to 17, 2023. The series of activities are the Kendal Batik Festival, including a fashion show parade, fashion show competition, Kendal batik exhibition and children's batik competition. The world's first Open Chess Championship on the beach and breaking the MURI record for weighing sepak takraw balls on the beach with 555 participants.

Other activities are the Singo Barong Festival, photography competition, mass gymnastics and Nusantara Creation gymnastics. There is also the Kendal Coffee Festival, UMKM Festival and Entrepreneurship training. Another activity is a talk show and podcast that discusses the potential of Kendal batik, Kendal coffee and Kendal UMKM.

Dandim 0715/Kendal, Lieutenant Colonel Inf. Misael Jenry Polii said that the purpose of holding this Cultural Festival is to advance Kendal in the fields of culture and economy by providing educational messages so that Kendal is better. This is to face the era of technology and free trade, so as to educate the public to be creative. "The goal is to invite the public to love domestic products, both culture and UMKM products," he hoped.

Kendal Model Community Displays Kendal Batik Fashion

The Kendal Model Community together with Sinok Sinang Kendal Tourism Ambassador participated in the Kendal Batik Parade which was held in the yard of the Kendal Regional Library, Saturday (9/9/2023) afternoon. The Kendal Batik Parade was attended by ten female models who displayed original Kendal batik fashion.

The parade was opened with a traditional dance from the Elementary School groups of grade 1 and grade 6 who also wore authentic Kendal batik costumes. Next, one by one the models wore batik clothes, while showing off authentic Kendal batik cloth.

The Head of the Kendal Regional Archives and Library Service, Wahyu Yusuf Akhmadi said that after the Literacy Festival Week, it would continue with other activities. This is because the Kendal Regional Library is not only a place to read and borrow books, but is also used as a place for various community activities.

"Collaboration will continue to be carried out, especially those related to the Regional Library, that this Regional Library is actually a place to increase capacity, skills and quality that are not limited to books, but also from other sources, one of which is from the inspiration of activists and creativity from communities in Kendal Regency," he said.

Kendal batik craftsman, Wiji Astuti hopes that activities such as the Kendal Batik Parade will be held more often, because it will promote Kendal's typical batik so that it becomes better known. Therefore, he hopes that other Kendal batik artisans will also be involved. "I am very happy with this kind of activity, because it will introduce Kendal batik to the wider community," he said.

Event Coordinator, Virna Ana Ruliana from Sanggar Gega Wiraga said that this activity collaborated with the Kendal Batik Community and Sinok Sinang Kendal. This activity is themed Membatik Rasa which presents a batik parade and traditional dance. "This activity is specifically related to batik, which is also opened with a traditional dance entitled Tari Batik Ayu," he said.

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