Jlamprang Batik Patterns as Pekalongan Local Wisdom of Using Batik Technique

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

Abstract

As Batik City, the branding launched by the local government to celebrate the city’s 105 years anniversary on April 1^st, 2011, Pekalongan has particular and unique batik called ‘batik pesisiran’ that has different colour and motive from Yogyakarta or Surakarta batik. Jlamprang is one of five original batik motives which was initially created to substitute Indian patola woven fabric pattern as it has geometric patterns consisting of dot, circle, and square with padma flower in the middle of the circle resembling the Indian patola pattern. The research shows how Jlamprang batik motive is found, how it is developed into batik motive, and how it is utilized by the local people. The data were obtained by using literature review on Jlamprang batik motive, observing its use, and interviewing the local people who understand well about it and its use. The result shows that although the local people understand Jlamprang history and use it for their benefit, such as producing and wearing batik with the motive and using it for handicraft or decoration; Jlamprang batik motive starts to be forgotten as it is less preferred by common buyers who preferred more popular or stylish motive than the ordinary and plain geometric ones.