Malang, May 30th, 2024 – Batik Tlogosari, an artistic creation inspired by the natural wealth and culture of Ngijo Village, is gaining widespread attention. Ita Fitriyah (46), a batik enthusiast and craftsman from the village, shares the intriguing stories behind the patterns and philosophy of Tlogosari Batik in an exclusive interview.

Tlogosari Batik derives its name from Tlogosari Village, which later became Ngijo Village. Ita explains that Tlogosari Village has a strong spiritual history associated with the Tlogosari tree. “The Tlogosari tree is revered in animistic and dynamistic beliefs. When it’s burned, the tree’s fire rises upward, believed to be a messenger between humans and their God,” she reveals. This tree is the main inspiration for Tlogosari Batik patterns, covering the morphology of leaves, leaf veins, flowers, flower buds, branches, the tree itself, and its tendrils.

The technique for creating Tlogosari Batik initially used the traditional written method. “The beauty of written batik attracts many customers, even from outside the area,” Ita said. The process of making a piece of written batik takes about two months. However, to meet the increasing demand, she developed the stamped batik technique. “Now we also make stamped batik for uniform series with a faster process,” she added.

In this modernization era, Ita strives to preserve Tlogosari Batik. One of her ways is by educating the community about the history of this batik. “By telling its history, people will appreciate and understand the philosophy behind the batik. I introduced it nationwide and people began to realize that this batik holds extraordinary historical value,” she explained.

The response to Tlogosari Batik has been very positive. Most Tlogosari Batik customers are repeat buyers who often recommend it to other institutions.

Ita hopes that Tlogosari Batik will continue to be known and become the flagship pattern of Ngijo Village. “Tlogosari Batik has been featured in scientific research several times by the Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, and Universitas Merdeka Malang. I hope this pattern continues to develop and not just be limited to one pattern but also highlight other themes such as leading industrial centers,” she states.

Tlogosari Batik is not just a patterned fabric but a cultural heritage rich in history and philosophy. Ita’s efforts to develop and preserve this batik are commendable. By continuously exploring and introducing the values behind Tlogosari Batik, it is hoped that this batik will remain in existence and become more recognised by future generations.