UNAIR NEWS – Preserving cultural heritage while empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is a central mission of Universitas Airlangga’s (UNAIR) Learning with Community Program (BBK). The BBK team in Gondang Village, Mojokerto, organized a batik workshop to revive a once-thriving local craft that had served as a significant economic driver for the community.
Gondang Village is home to Sekar Ndaru batik, a product created through East Java’s Desa Berdaya Program in 2022. This unique batik design is inspired by the ndaru fruit, which is traditionally believed to bring good fortune.
“Unfortunately, production of Sekar Ndaru batik has come to a halt due to a shortage of skilled workers and time constraints,” explained Nofiyah Maulidah, a representative of the KKN-BBK team.
Batik Jumput: New approach
To reignite batik production in the village, Maulidah and her team introduced batik jumput as an alternative during a workshop on Thursday, January 16, 2024. This technique offers a faster production process compared to the traditional Sekar Ndaru method.
The workshop drew enthusiastic participation from local women, who actively engaged in the entire process, from designing patterns to dyeing fabrics. “This workshop introduced a fresh innovation in batik-making. Previously, the process relied heavily on hand-drawn techniques. Now, we’re teaching the jumput method, which incorporates both natural and synthetic dyes,” Maulidah explained.
The workshop sought to inspire the community to resume batik production, allowing it to once again serve as both a cultural hallmark and a source of livelihood. With Mojokerto’s rich history as the center of the Majapahit Kingdom, the region holds vast potential for cultural and economic development.
“Our goal is to revive the Sekar Ndaru batik community because it is a vital asset for boosting the village’s economy. Further development of this craft aligns with the cultural heritage of Mojokerto, which is closely tied to the legacy of the Majapahit Kingdom,” Maulidah concluded.
Author: Afifah Alfina
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
