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WHEN a journalist from Kompas daily asked Karl Lagerfeld's comment about batik, the top fashion designer said the actual batik is interesting, but because it has been a lot of imitation of motif and color composition, it has lost its appeal. However, when the correspondent submitted a special batik to Lagerfeld, the designer who always dark glasses was exclaimed amazed. He praised the motifs and colors on the batik cloth and claimed to be very exclusive.

Lagerfeld certainly do not know the details of how batik always adapts to the development of fashion so that it is available to various circles. Start batik for Rp30.000 (about 2.2 USD) to be worth millions, like batik Parang Kencana. In terms of motives, materials, colors, batik always follow the development of the fashion world, even a trend of its own.

Batik is no longer just a part of fashion, but it is not the identity of the Indonesian nation that has become a world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009. With the stipulation, it is the duty of every Indonesian citizen to take care of the preservation of batik as a very valuable cultural heritage. My post about batik earlier, this time, and that will come, is part of the spirit of preserving and loving the preservation of indigenous culture of Indonesia.

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From bed to office

Batik also has become the official dress of Indonesia so that in state activities, batik can replace the suit. Even batik is considered best suited to the natural tropical conditions of Indonesia. With materials suitable for relatively hot Indonesia, batik also encourages state and private institutions to be more energy efficient through the appropriate air conditioning temperature.

Not only Indonesian leaders who love batik. Some world leaders often wear batik in every formal event, such as former South African President, Nelson Mandela, former US President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as a number of other country leaders. In government-owned and private offices, in a week there is one day the employees must wear batik. Especially after the Indonesian government set the date of October 2 as the Day of National Batik, batik clothing is very populist.

However, batik is not just a formal dress. Starting from the nightgown, T-shirts, even to underwear, there are already using batik motif as part of the art. The Indonesian writer, Kurnia Effendi, uses her car list with batik motifs. He has a very aggressive campaigning batik to all levels of society. Often use batik sarongs on various occasions, and give appreciation to batik artists in various regions.

Batik is indeed multifunctional. Can be used anywhere, anytime, for any event. Steemians and writers from Bandung, West Java, @mariska.lubis, have painted doodle Steemit with beautiful batik motif.

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batik painting Vs printing

Like the other products, batik is also not separated from imitation and mass produced by the textile industry. So some exclusive motifs and collections, massively imitated.

In the midst of the progress of the textile industry, batik still hunted for being full of high artistic image, especially when the motive is unique and has a high level of difficulty. Many world figures, also love batik. The price of both types of batik is of course different. however, the original and the exclusive remain more expensive and more valuable.

When visiting Plaza Medan Fair and Center Point Mall in Medan, North Sumatra, I saw various types of batik with a cheap price, medium, to expensive. Batik in malls generally have a relatively high price although, in my own opinion, the motive and color sometimes not better with batik sold in pavement or in the hall of the mall. The problem of taste is different, and with batik we find everything: fashion, motif, color, art, culture, and taste high.[]

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Warisan Budaya Indonesia Bagi Dunia: Batik

TATKALA wartawan surat kabar Kompas meminta komentar Karl Lagerfeld tentang batik, perancang mode top itu menyebutkan sesungguhnya batik menarik, tetapi karena sudah banyak peniruan motif maupun komposisi warna, sudah kehilangan daya tariknya. Namun, ketika wartawan bersangkutan menyerahkan batik khas kepada Lagerfeld, perancang yang selalu berkacamata gelap itu berseru kagum. Dia memuji motif dan warna pada kain batik tersebut dan mengaku sangat eksklusif.

Lagerfeld tentu tidak mengetahui detail bagaimana batik selalu menyesuaikan dengan perkembangan mode sehingga tersedia untuk berbagai kalangan. Mulai batik seharga Rp30.000 (sekitar 2.2 USD) sampai yang beharga jutaan, seperti batik Parang Kencana. Dari segi motif, bahan, warna, batik selalu mengikuti perkembangan mode dunia, bahkan menjadi tren tersendiri.

Batik bukan lagi hanya bagian dari fashion, tetapi bukan menjadi identitas bangsa Indonesia yang sudah menjadi warisan dunia oleh United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) pada 2009 lalu. Dengan penetapan tersebut, sudah menjadi kewajiban setiap warga negara Indonesia untuk merawat kelestarian batik sebagai warisan budaya yang sangat beharga. Postingan saya tentang batik terdahulu, kali ini, dan yang akan datang, merupakan bagian dari semangat menjaga dan mencintai kelestarian budaya asli Indonesia.

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Dari ranjang sampai kantor

Batik juga sudah menjadi pakaian resmi Indonesia sehingga dalam kegiatan kenegaraan, batik sudah bisa menggantikan jas. Bahkan batik dianggap paling cocok dengan kondisi tropis alam Indonesia. Dengan bahan yang cocok untuk Indonesia yang relatif panas, batik ikut mendorong instansi negara maupun swasta untuk lebih hemat energi melalui suhu pendingin ruangan yang sesuai.

Bukan hanya pemimpin Indonesia yang menyukai batik. Beberapa pemimpin dunia pun sering mengenakan batik dalam setiap acara formal, seperti mantan Presiden Afrika Selatan, Nelson Mandela, mantan Presiden Amerika Serikat Bill Clinton dan Barack Obama, serta sejumlah pemimpin negara lainnya. Di perkantoran milik pemerintah dan swasta, dalam sepekan ada satu hari para karyawan wajib mengenakan batik. Apalagi setelah pemerintah Indonesia menetapkan tanggal 2 Oktober sebagai Hari Batik Nasional, pakaian batik sudah sangat merakyat.
Namun, batik bukan hanya pakaian resmi. Mulai dari baju tidur, kaos oblong, bahkan sampai celana dalam, sudah ada yang menggunakan motif batik sebagai bagian dari seni. Penulis Indonesia, Kurnia Effendi, menggunakan list mobilnya dengan motif batik. Dia punya sangat gencar mengkampanye batik kepada seluruh lapisan masyarakat. Sering menggunakan sarung batik dalam berbagai kesempatan, dan memberikan apresiasi kepada seniman pelukis batik di berbagai daerah.

Batik itu memang multifungsi. Bisa dipakai di mana saja, kapan saja, untuk acara apa saja. Steemians sekaligus penulis asal Bandung, Jawa Barat, @mariska.lubis, pernah melukis doodle Steemit dengan motif batik yang indah.

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In every mall and traditional market in Indonesia, batik clothing traders are easily to found. The price starts from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even for certain types of batik sold to millions of rupiah. Some of outlets selling batik at Plaza Medan Fair, Medan, North Sumatra. Photos taken Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
Photos by @ayijufridar

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Batik tulis vs cetak

Sebagaimana produk lainnya, batik juga tidak lepas dari peniruan dan diproduksi secara massa dengan industri tekstil. Sehingga beberapa motif dan koleksi yang eksklusif, ditiru secara massal.

Di tengah kemajuan industri tekstil, batik tulis tetap diburu karena dianggap penuh dengan citra seni tinggi, apalagi bila motifnya unik serta memiliki tingkat kesulitan yang tinggi. Banyak tokoh dunia, juga menyukai batik tulis. Harga kedua jenis batik itu tentu saja berbeda. bagaimana pun juga, yang asli dan eksklusif tetap lebih mahal dan lebih bernilai.

Ketika berkunjung ke Plaza Medan Fair dan Center Point Mal di Medan, Sumatera Utara, saya melihat beraneka jenis batik dengan harga yang murah, sedang, sampai mahal. Batik di mal umumnya memiliki harga relatif tinggi meski, menurut saya, motif dan warnanya terkadang tidak lebih bagus dengan batik yang dijual di kaki lima atau di selasar mal. Masalah selera memang berbeda, dan dengan batik kita menemukan segalanya: fashion, motif, warna, seni, budaya, dan cita rasa tinggi.[]

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Batik Kencana Ungu is a famous brand in Indonesia and has loyal users. Me and @ zainalbakri when visiting a batik outlet Kencana Ungu in Solo, Central Java.
Photos by @emnajourney

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Batik and Steemit: Bireuen Steemit Communitycounselor, @dokter-purnama, wears a batik also with a tree motif while attending the Steemit event in Bireuen. Batik became the official dress in Indonesia, and meet up Steemit is also seen as an official event, even though it took a leisurely pace.
Photo by @bahagia-arbi

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Batik and Steemit: The writer from Bandung, @mariska.lubis, combines Steemit's batik shirts with batik while attending the Meet Up Indonesian Steemit Community (KSI) Chapter Banda Aceh on January 13, 2018. It looks sporty as well as elegant.
Photo by @muammar

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Counter of Batik Keris at Center Point Mall in Medan, North Sumatra, which imitates itself as one of the classy batik in Indonesia. Photos taken on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
Photo by @ayijufridar

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