Pitauli Siahaan
IPMI International Business School
Amelia Naim Indrajaya
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Most batik crafters and artisans in Indonesia made their batik designs based on the motifs and patterns inherited from generation to generation. Each region has its own characteristics and authenticity of batik according to their specific uniqueness. However, if we see further, most existing batik patterns produced from villages in the regions, tend to be just as same as previous and not much developed as the most batik artisans and crafters live in rural area and a small village with limitation to facilities and tools to allow and stimulate them to explore new batik patterns. Looking at this situation, research has been done with results of one modeling software that can support batik artisans to incorporate technology to develop their traditional craft work.
This business started from a research that connected batik design with science. During his research, Muhammad Lukman and team found that pattern in batik design is a recurring pattern and therefore can be made with the principle of iteration in mathematics called fractal. From here they then developed a modeling software application to create batik designs. The software called JBatik has a parametric system to create batik patterns and other patterns using fractal formula to produce patterns. Users can draw traditional batik patterns and generate new patterns by changing their parameters, therefore they are able to create new variations of batik patterns inspired by traditional Indonesian patterns.
Muhammad Lukman along with his colleague Nancy Margried and Yun Hariadi through a yearlong research about batik and science, found that there is only limited software available in Indonesia for batik pattern design. Armed with the result of their research as well as their passion to bring technology into traditional art, they create JBatik software as an affordable software to support batik artisan community in Indonesia.
Technology use in traditional art specifically in batik communities has contributing to solve some small village and rural area problems, which are poverty, lack of skill and unemployment. Batik fractal started their debut in Bandung and has contribute to solve some economic and social issue in this cities. Moving forward Batik Fractal are about to expand their contributions to other villages and cities as well.
CV Piksel Indonesia as the creator of JBatik Software and Batik Fractal has started in 2009. Currently they already sold more than thousands of JBatik softwares throughout Indonesia with majority users in Java and Bali islands. Other than software, Piksel Indonesia also creates other products like batik fabric, ladies bags, ladies shirts, men shirts, home living accessories and decoration using batik material with pattern made by JBatik software. Batik Fractal is the brand name for each product that mention above.
Not only focusing on their own products, this company also supports the batik crafter and communities that produce batik using JBatik software by helping them to sell their products labeled #madewithjbatik on Batik Fractal websites and stores. Outside software and batik products, Piksel Indonesia also provide design interior consultation for government or private project. All of the products and services produce is the income generator for the company.
Batik Fractal aims to achieve more than three thousand users of JBatik software with concentration mainly in small and medium traditional batik and craft artisans. It also targeted JBatik as one of curriculum within the universities and vocational schools in Bandung to expose more than 200-300 students to use JBatik. For retail products using batik fractal brand, they aim to open retail counters in some Indonesia’s big cities incorporated with traditional artisans as suppliers.
Initially Batik Fractal focused to empower batik artisans in Bandung but then continued working to empower batik and craft artisans in all Indonesia. Currently they have trained around 3000 artisans to use JBatik software starting from Java, Bali and now Kalimantan. As an innovation, the use of software into traditional art needs intensive training and continued effort. Through several training levels in mastering the use of JBatik software, the artisans can incorporate technology to develop their traditional craft work. The artisans are not only have access to affordable technology and use the technology to develop their batik, but also have been proven to contribute to increase productivity, bring more sales and increase their profit which leads to improving their income.
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