School-Batik Community Unite to Inspire Youth on National Batik Day

KBRN, Sleman: In celebration of the 16th National Batik Day, Olifant School joined forces with the Indonesian Batik Lovers Association (PPBI) Sekar Jagad to host a cultural event themed “Yogya, Our Shared World Batik City” on Friday, October 3, 2025.

Held at Olifant School on Jalan Demangan Baru, Condongcatur Village, Depok Subdistrict, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, the event aimed to introduce batik to younger generations as part of PPBI Sekar Jagad’s outreach program.

Chair of PPBI Sekar Jagad’s Assessment Council, Suhartanto, emphasized that the initiative marks a shift in the organization’s approach, moving from engaging seasoned batik enthusiasts to reaching kindergarten through high school students.

“We need the younger generation to embrace batik. That’s why we’re working with schools. Perhaps one day, wearing batik regularly will become the norm,” Suhartanto said on the sidelines of the event on Friday, October 3, 2025.

He also voiced concern over the growing popularity of mass-produced textiles bearing batik-like motifs, which he believes diminishes the craft’s cultural and economic value.

Authentic batik, he explained, is created through techniques such as stamping, a combination of stamping and hand-drawing, or entirely by hand, methods that sustain local artisans and communities throughout the production process.

“Batik is a walking library, full of life lessons. My message to young people is simple: love it, wear it, and preserve it. It’s our cultural pride,” Suhartanto added.

The event featured a talk show exploring batik’s historical roots and Yogyakarta’s role as a global batik hub. Speakers included Laretna Trisnantari Adishakti, known as Sita, Deputy Chair of PPBI Sekar Jagad and UNESCO Chair in Heritage Cities Conservation and Management, alongside board member Karina Rima Melati.

Sita explained that Yogyakarta’s designation as a “World Batik City” stems from its deep cultural heritage, visible in traditional reliefs, traditional puppets, and other artifacts that reflect a harmonious relationship between nature and culture.

She also highlighted the significance of the so-called Yogyakarta cosmological axis, from the Tugu monument to the Panggung Krapyak site, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.

“This recognition comes with responsibility. Shops on Malioboro Street must uphold world-class standards and sell only genuine batik. The World Craft Council (WCC) named Yogyakarta a world batik city in 2014 based on seven key criteria,” Sita noted.

Karina Rima Melati reinforced the importance of process in defining batik. She clarified that true batik must involve the use of wax, distinguishing it from printed fabrics. She also stressed that wearing batik is a way for young people to express their cultural identity.

“Any motif is fine, but the process must involve wax. That’s what makes it batik. It’s important for youth to wear batik. It’s who we are,” Karina said.

A fashion show titled “Batik in the Life of Yogyakarta’s People” illustrated batik’s role across life stages, from birth to death. The event concluded with the launch of a book bearing the same title, documenting batik’s enduring presence in local life.

Olifant School students actively participated as MCs, moderators, seminar attendees, and runway models. Through these roles, they gained a deeper understanding of batik’s cultural significance and the philosophy behind the “Batik Life Cycle.”

“Through this collaboration, we hope Olifant School can contribute meaningfully to preserving Yogyakarta batik and instill pride in Indonesian culture among the younger generation,” said a school representative.

The National Batik Day celebration underscored the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, cultural organizations, and the public in safeguarding batik as a national identity, while reaffirming Yogyakarta’s global standing in the world of batik. ***