Inexpensive Handmade Batik of Pekalongan

In Ridho's hands,his family handmade batik business propers.However,the business cannot grow any further.The incoming overseas demands can only be catered for in small volumes.What seems to be the problem?(BEI News Team)

Speaking of handmade batik in this country,mostly anyone would soon be reminded of Pekalongan.This Central Java region is indeed notable for its batik products.The majority of its people are handmade batik craftsmen.

H.Mohammad Ridho F,who owns Griya Batik Arina,is considered a successful silk handmada batik craftsman in Pekalongan."I started to work on this business when I graduated from High School,about 20 years ago,"admitted this man,born on June (,1954,when met with by the BEINEWS Team at an exhibition held in Jakarta not long a go.

Ridho has learnt all about batik from his family who were batik craftsmen.The business of this father of two girls had been first set up by his great grandfather,wich was passed on to his grandmother and then on to his father.So,Ridho was fourt generation to continue the business.And,the business prospers in his hands.

Ridho asserted that batik craftsmanship is a very profitable business.Especially throughout the '80s,when batik became an official wear in state events or any official occasions. Consequently,he used to receive many orders then.

Nevertheless, as they say, the wheel of fortune rotates,so was Ridho's batik business.He affirms that nowadays,the order for handmade batik has reduced."My batik sales volume prior to the reformation period had been very favourable. I received many orders then.However, the sales volume has been decreasing eversince the reformation period,"he was quoted as saying.

In order to overcome the prevailing situation, for his batik,Ridho has to quote inexpensive prices yet profitable enough to maintain his 60 employees at work. "I can only try to keep the business running for the time being,but not growing as before.I started off with having no fagtory,then managed to build one.Now that I already have a factory,unfortunately,I cannot develop the business apart from maintaining it,"he said.

The batik produced by Griya Batik Arina are traditionally made by hand instead of machine. Therefore,the reduction of one piece of batik may take a considerably long time, depending on the difficulty encountered in creating the batik patterns.

As they are harder to work on,batiks with smaller pattern may require up to 6 months to finish, while those with bigger patterns would only take 2 months.Unlike printed batiks, according to Ridho, a score of printed batiks can be produced in one day.

The processing difficulty and time consumed mainly determine Ridho's handmade batiks. The harder and longer it takes for a piece of batik to be made,the higher is the selling price. His most expensive batik costs Rp million/piece while the least expensive one Rp 200,000/piece.

Based on that price setting, the production of Griya Batik Arina goes in line with the incoming order. Whether the order is high or low, the production would follow accordingly."I will just take it easy and not force myself,as long as I gain some profis,it would do,"was his comment.

With such indefinite quantities of order,there is no fixed monthly standard output.Not to mention the variety of patterns which also accounts for the processing period,making it even more unlikely to set a standard output quantity.Production goes along with necessity.The more you need,the more you produce, on the other hand,the lesser you need,the lesser you produced,"he added.

However,Ridho can average out 10 scores production of batik a week if the process is easy,and about 5 scores a week of the most, for more complicated patterns.The most popular batikwear are ladies'stoles and men's shirts.

To simplify processing, Ridho uses white bases materials for his handmade batiks. Those materials are obtained from regions such as Jepara and Garut,and sometimes even from China,the quantity of which depends on the order received.

Oftentimes, to maintain the excellent quality of his batiks, Ridho would order dyes from abroad.According to him, natural dyes are determining factors in the quality of his handmade batiks."A part of natural sources(e.g leaves),dyes can also be extracted from chemicals and plants. Chemical dyes are purchased from Japan,"he stated.

The prices of those dyes depend on the colour and quality. Some organic type of dyes may cost up to Rp 37,500,- while non organic ones Rp 8,000,- Despite the imported raw materials,none of Ridho batiks has ever been exported in a large scale.This does not signify,however,that his products are not favoured abroad, as indicated by the ever-existent overseas buyers who come in small scales.

In atual fact,he still receives order from abroad."But I rather not fulfill their demands due to the unreliable payments which often occur. Some people would even just run away after receiving goods. So,I would only supply their demands on preaggreement basis,"he confirmed.

Besides,only printed batiks are normally exported abroad.Handmade ones are hard to export as they are hard to traditionally produce in large quantities every month.For this particular reason,his handmade batiks are more often sold out in domestic market, such as Jakarta, Solo and Jogjakarta.Nonetheless, if circumstances allow,for the future,Ridho is projecting to export his handmade batiks in large quantities overseas.Ridho does not have any particularly strategic plan for the sales of his batiks."I do not have any marketing plans,customers have usually seen and likely my batiks beforehand, and including the few who had gotten my name cards, would seek my address and come to my house,"he added.

In fact,Ridho prefers having visiting buyers,so that he can give them better pricing rather than in stores.

When asked about his sales vome, Ridho seemed reluctant to give reply. Instead he said,that it is rather hard to quantify handmade batik sales. One thing he knows for fact that he can afford to fulfill all his company needs therefrom.

Ridho claim lack of promotion as a major obstacle for his company to grow.Not to mention the increasing rivalry in this business."Competition in this field is getting tighter I must say.I have on praying and thanking God for all His blessings.I'm now living comfortably well, I didn't have anything when I was still in High School,now I own a factory and 11 residential houses,"he remarked.

Ridho entrusts all his problems in God's hands,as the Caretaker of all mankind."Now I only need to pray to God as I already feel sufficient.I can send my children to school and help others. Deep down inside I hope that my children, instead of being employees, would aspire to become businessmen like me. Of course it will all be up to them,"he quoted.

Ridho does not solely think for himself and his family,but for entire handmade batik industry as well. Thus,he expects and hope that in the future,the entire Indonesian handmade batik craftsmanship will develop and progress. To reach this goal,the government's intermediary will be very essential.

source:
BEI NEWS 20th edition,5th year,May-June 2004)