Jlamprang Batik: Pekalongan Cultural Identity from Natural Resources in the Environment

English Literature Study Program, Literature Department, Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia

Abstract

Pekalongan is one of the cities in Java Island that famous of batik as it has been established as Batik City by the local government on its 105’s anniversary in 2011. As a creative art of creating fabric, cloth, and clothing; batik is continuously preserved the city cultural identity since it has been established as Creative City by UNESCO in 2014. Jlamprang is one of five original batik motives from Pekalongan that took its name from a local plant called Jlamprang tree which was previously found abundantly in the city. The natural colourings that were used to colour Pekalongan batik were also obtained surrounding the city’s environment, including a particular blue colour called indigo which is taken from indigo tree. This research exposes the history of Jlamprang batik motive, its utilization, its meaning, and its benefit for Pekalongan people. The data were collected by applying a literature review of the motive, observation of its use, and interviews with the local people who understand well about it and its usage. The result shows that local people know Jlamprang batik motive and use it wisely for their benefit, like producing and wearing batik with Jlamprang motive and using it for handicraft and decoration.