Our President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has decided that October 2nd is a Batik Day.... So on that day, as Indonesian people, we have to wear Batik. Many companies, schools, offices, have their employees wearing Batik not only on Batik Day but also once a week. Most of them choose Friday as a Batik Day when all of the workers have to wear Batik. That also happens in my University. Starting on April this year we have a new uniform both for the educational staffs and non-educational staffs, which means I, as one of the lecturers (Yes, I am.. I am a lecturer! Don't you believe it???? =,= ), have to wear this uniform. We were given the same pattern of cloth then we have to sew it by ourselves or we could give it to a tailor to make our uniform. The model is free. We could design it by ourselves. So... This is my uniform that I always wear every Friday. I usually wear it with THE EXECUTIVE pants, unbranded polka ribbon, and VNC shoes.
It would be more fun if we talk more about the history of Batik. Let me tell you what I know about Batik. I read it on the Internet, frankily :p . The word batik is thought to be derived from the word 'ambatik' which translated means 'a cloth with little dots'. The suffix 'tik' means little dot, drop, point or to make dots. Batik may also originate from the Javanese word 'tritik' which describes a resist process for dying where the patterns are reserved on the textiles by tying and sewing areas prior to dying, similar to tie dye techniques. Another Javanese phase for the mystical experience of making batik is “mbatik manah” which means “drawing a batik design on the heart”. Making batik is not an easy thing to do. There are many kinds of batik that we can find in Indonesia. But the most popular batik is batik which uses a wax pen or canting to make it. Of course the price will be higher than Batik which only need to stamp it on the cloth.
Here is the picture of
canting:
So, are you proud of being Indonesian people??
Let's wear Batik!
