Mrs. Siti Laela has been involved in the world of batik for almost 13 years, since 2012. Her passion extends beyond the art to her love for the indigenous Betawi culture. "Batik is widely sold in Jakarta, but the indigenous people rarely produce it themselves. When I was little, many Betawi people made batik," Mrs. Siti Laela recalled her childhood.
Source: Documentation at the Batik Betawi Terogong site by 2Madison
Concerned about the fading batik culture among the Betawi community, Mrs. Siti Laela decided to personally revive this tradition, particularly in the Terogong area of South Jakarta. Initially a teacher at a public vocational school, after completing her master's degree, she chose to focus on deepening her batik skills. The learning process began in 2011, and a year later, Batik Betawi Terogong was born.
Source: Documentation at the Batik Betawi Terogong site by 2Madison
The batik motifs are distinctly Betawi, such as ondel-ondel (traditional Betawinese puppet) and other cultural elements synonymous with Jakarta. The fabrics are generally cotton for standard prices, and silk for more exclusive, custom orders.
Source: Documentation at the Terogong Betawi Batik site by 2Madison
For Mrs. Siti Laela, batik-making isn't just a job, but a way to preserve culture. Through her work, she hopes Betawi batik will become more widely known, not only in Jakarta but also internationally.
Resource person: Mrs. Siti Laela
Interviewer: Yuni
Author: Noverdy R
