American Batik Design Competition Launched

The Indonesian Ambassador for the U.S. launched the American Batik Design Competition last Wednesday in New York.



[Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Indonesian Ambassador for United States]:

“In the beginning, we were looking for a creative way to promote batik. One way that we chose was to make Americans feel like they also own batik.”



The theme of this competition is “The Spirit of America in the Heritage of Batik.”



[Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Indonesian Ambassador for United States]:

“And to feel like you own batik, they need to design their own batik with their own interpretation. It is known that batik originated and belonged to Indonesia, but the expression can be from different countries, like African batik, Russian batik, etc.”



Famous Indonesian fashion designer Oscar Lawalata was invited to help launch this project.



[Oscar Lawalata, Batik Fashion Designer]:

“If countries like the United States can participate in loving batik, and they can also imagine how to make batik, it is very good for the development of batik itself.”



Tonight Oscar presents 24 of his batik collections inspired from Central Java’s batiks, and other places.



[Judith Edstrom, Batik Lover]:

“I love batik because what it tells about the history of different parts of Indonesia, from the original ones from Solo and Jogjakarta, and to those that have Chinese influence on the North coast. Where they have the red and so on. The batik from Madura are my favorites.”



[Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Indonesian Ambassador for United States]:

“I hope this will make fashion designers in United States participate, and this can be a pilot project that can be done in other countries as well.”



The competition is open to all American citizens over the age of 16. The deadline for submissions is August 1.



[Judith Edstrom, Batik Lover]:

“I think what the design competition can do is bring to the United States, bring to American society, the richness of your culture.”



The top three designers will win a trip to Indonesia, where they can learn firsthand how to make batik in seven different Indonesian locations. The finalists’ works will be exhibited in shows in both Indonesia and the United States.



[Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Indonesian Ambassador for United States]:

“We will consider it a success if any American designer participates in this competition, like fashion designers, graphic designers or fabric designers. We will continue to launch this competition in San Francisco, LA, Chicago, St Louis, Atlanta, and other cities.”



NTD News, Manhattan, New York