Kampong of Batik Laweyan, Solo

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1.6 ( 7 Voter(s) )

A. Overview

Laweyan is one of the most famous batik centers in Solo or Surakarta, Central Java. There are hundreds of batik painters in the kampong, making various motifs. The current batik painters are the third generation of painters in this area so their skill has actually been passed on for generations. Laweyan is not just a batik center. It has a long history behind it and has undergone the highs and lows of batik business so far. But today, it has become a well-known place often crowded by tourists, both local and foreign.

The history says that Kampong Laweyan has been in existence since the reign of Pajang Kingdom back in the 15th century. That time, the kampong was known as a producer of cotton and yarn which then developed into a center for woven cloths and clothes industry. Cloths and fabrics are called in Javanese by the word lawe. Thus the name Laweyan came from.

At the beginning, Laweyan only produced woven cloths and fabrics. It turned to batik when Kiai Ageng Henis, a descendant of King Brawijaya V, came to stay in the kampong in 1546. Kiai Ageng Henis was a hindu before converted to Islam by Sunan Kalijaga, who spent some time to Laweyan on his way to Pajang Kingdom. After that, aside from spreading Islam along with Sunan Kalijaga, Kiai Ageng Henis also taught the people of Laweyan to make batik cap (stamped batik) and batik tulis (hand-painted batik).

Batik made Laweyan a developed trading city in Solo that there emerged rich batik business owners. Laweyan was noted also to have an important role in the history of Indonesia during the national struggle for Independence. In 1911, Serikat Dagang Islam (SDI) or Islamic Merchant Union was founded on the initiative of K.H. Samanhudi. The purpose of the organization was to oppose the Dutch government that started to gain more control inside Keraton Surakarta. Then in 1935, a number of batik merchants in the kampong also founded a cooperative known as “Persatoean Peroesahaan Batik Boemi Putera Soerakarta” (Association of Local Batik Companies of Surakarta). Laweyan reached its peak of glory circa 1990s up to the end of 1970s.

In the era of the New Order government, Laweyan was critical as people started to use the technology to print batik. This way they could produce hundreds of scores of batik clothes everyday. The situation got worse with the Royal Family controlled the production and used batik as a symbol of legitimacy for their authority, i.e. by defining that certain motifs, like Kawung and Parang, were only for kings, and other motifs like Wahyu Tumurun, Sidodadi, and Sidoluhur were only for noblemen. Since then, batik cap and batik tulis industry started to sink. There were hardly young generations willing to take up their parents’ batik business. They chose to go to college, abroad, or work in private companies or become civil servants.

Batik industry in Laweyan began to revive in early 2000s, when some people invited related parties like the government or public figures to work together for batik. As a result, in 25 September 2004, the Forum Pengembangan Kampung Batik Laweyan (FPKBL) was founded. The forum’s objective is to optimize all the people’s potentials to prepare for and anticipate global market in relation to batik industry. The members are not only batik business owners, but also Laweyan people of various occupations, such as students or young entrepreneurs.

The establishment of this forum was supported by the regional government of Surakarta. Kampung Laweyan itself was then made a batik tourism kampong in 2004. Furthermore, the government of Solo has also provided legal protection for Laweyan batik by obtaining patents for 215 motifs by the Decree of Directorate General of Intellectual Property Unit, Department of Law and Human Rights Number M.01-HC 03.01/1987 dated 24 November 2004.

FPKBL also maintained cooperation with Civil Society Organization, Non-Government Organization, etc. They started to develop Laweyan both in physical and non-physical sectors. Shelters, ornaments, street lamps, information board, fences have been built. And thanks to Germany government, they have made an installation for processing liquid waste (IPAL). Besides, there are more or less 30 antique houses renovated by the government. There have been workshops that aimed to improve people’s abilities and knowledge on many things such as entrepreneurship, web design, export-import activities, tax matters, graphic design, craftsmanship, and so on.

All the efforts finally result in an award given by the government, i.e. UPAKARTI for Small Industry Area category. The award was given by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in person to the Head of FPKBL Ir. Alpha Febela Priyatmono MT in Istana Merdeka on 7 January 2009. Nowadays, houses for batik industry and also batik showrooms have mushroomed in Laweyan. It appears to be a materialization of the touted concept of “Rumahku Galeriku” (My house, my gallery). Not only batik fabrics and clothes, the kampong has now developed handicraft and souvenir industry.

B. Features

Laweyan is the right place for those who are looking for batik. There are various motifs, among the most popular are Tirto Tejo and Truntun. The characteristic of Laweyan batik is that the color tends to be brownish. Laweyan batik is also more like pedalaman batik in terms of its dark background. There are many kinds of products of batik here. You can find not only clothes or fabrics, but also bedcovers, bed sheets, bags, handicrafts, and souvenirs.

Here, tourists are allowed to watch the making of batik, from the coloring, the soaking, to the drying out process. It process may take from morning to midday so if you want to see the whole process of batik making, you should come early.

Another uniqueness you will find in this kampong is the architecture of the houses which is a combination of European-Javanese-Islamic style. There is a colonial-styled house called nDalem Tjokrosoemarto. The 1800 m² house is an inheritance of Tjokrosoemanto, one of the earliest batik business owners and exporters in Indonesia. Tjokrosoemanto has been making batik since 1990 and distribute his products to all over Indonesia and export it aboard.

Since 1997, the 1915-made house has been established by then Minister of Tourism Joop Ave as the Monumen Batik Indonesia (Batik Monument of Indonesia). The house offers lunch and dinner package (minimum 30 pax). This is very interesting. Taking the package, tourists can have a taste of Solo special food while surrounded by old-time atmosphere provided by the house. Besides, there are other package tours in nDalem Tjokrosoemanto, such as entertainment (dance, gamelan, siteran) and Tour de Laweyan in which tourists are taken to go around Laweyan on tricycle, shop and see the making process of batik.

C. Location

Kampong Laweyan is situated in Laweyan Village, Laweyan District, Surakarta Regency, Central Java.

D. Access

It is easy to reach the kampong for it is not so far from Solo City. You can get there by public or private transportation. The trip will take about 30-45 minutes.

E. Ticket

There is no admission charge to get into the kampong.

F. Accommodations and Facilities

Kampong Laweyan provides visitors with ease to access various facilities. Among the facilities are mosque, batik shop and workshop, center for Javanese dance and language training, traditional market, hostels and hotels, restaurants and café, meeting hall, etc.

Text: Samsuni
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various translation)

Read : 6954 time(s).

If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

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