APR Holds Training for Local Batik Makers | Asia Pacific Rayon Skip to main content

Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) is providing training to local batik makers in Indonesia to help them increase their income and keep this traditional craft alive.

The training is held at Rumah Batik Andalan (RBA) in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, where local people produce the colourful batik cloth.

It’s aimed not only at developing their skills, but helping them create and patent their own designs.

“The key is in the development of the motif, how it corresponds to nature in its tangible and decorative forms, while still maintaining its regional context,” said Ananta Hari Noorsasetya, a lecturer and artist who was invited by APR to conduct the training.

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The training comes as part of APR’s Social Stewardship programme as a commitment to developing the communities where the company operates, as well as helping to grow the Indonesian textile and fashion industry.

Ananta added that every batik producer has his or her own unique style.

“If you want to advance and be known, you must be prepared to compete with other batik producers. That is the duty of the batik producers to introduce their priority motifs and I am sure that with the new design, it will enrich batik in Riau,” he said.

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Siti Nurbaya, RBA Chairperson, said she hoped the training would help improve the skills of local batik makers so that their work would increasingly be seen on the national stage.

The training is split into four modules, beginning in January this year and scheduled to conclude by mid-2020.

So far RBA, which is run by APR’s sister company Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper, has patented five batik motifs.

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