Consisting of many islands and tribes make Indonesia so rich in culture. One of the riches can be seen from the variety of traditional fabrics that each region has. Some fabrics are even famous to foreign countries. Initially, traditional Indonesian fabrics were only worn as a fashion complement. Over time, its application has become more widespread. Not a few people use traditional fabrics to beautify their homes so that their homes become more comfortable.

In addition to providing an aesthetic touch, incorporating traditional fabric elements into the house is also the right way to preserve Indonesian culture, while strengthening the nation’s identity in the midst of the onslaught of foreign cultures. Indonesia traditional fabrics and motifs are very special. Because, each type of fabric has its own story. The making is also very long, rich in local wisdom, and seems endless to be explored because the characters and motifs are very diverse.

There are many ways to apply traditional fabrics into the interior of the house, from making them as upholstery for sofas or chairs, tablecloths, curtains, pillowcases, additional accents for sheets, to wall decorations. So, what traditional fabrics can be used to beautify your home?

Kawung Batik
Batik is the ancestral masterpiece of the Indonesian nation which has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural heritages. Not surprisingly, many people like to use the cloth, including using it as a decoration element. The batik that is often used as home interior decoration is kawung batik from Yogyakarta. This wastra has circles arranged geometrically motif. Various sources say that the pattern was inspired by kawung or palm fruit. There are also those who interpret the motif as a blooming lotus flower.

In Javanese culture, this motif has a deep meaning, namely perfection, holiness, and purity. Meanwhile, the geometric arrangement is a symbol of the existence of human life. In addition, the kawung motif also symbolizes strength and justice. Therefore, in ancient times batik kawung was only worn by certain people. For example, government officials. Kawung batik is said to have existed since the 8th century or during the Ancient Mataram Kingdom. This is evident from the discovery of kawung carvings at Prambanan Temple. To be precise, at the Ganesha statue in the Shiva Temple zone. In the statue, the child of Lord Shiva is seen wearing a sash decorated with flowers like kawung which is often found on classic batik sheets.

As a recommendation, you can apply kawung batik as a sarong to cover a number of home furnishings, such as dispensers, tissue boxes, and sofa pillows. In addition, these ethnic fabrics can also be used as additional accents on sheets and tablecloths.

Lurik
Another fabric that can also be used as a home interior decoration is lurik. The traditional woven fabric from Gudeg City is no less popular with batik. This is because lurik has an interesting pattern, the motif of stripes with quirky color gradations. Lurik comes from the Old Javanese language, namely “lorek” which means line, or beaver. Basically, lurik has three patterns. First, the stripe pattern with long stripes accented in the direction of the fabric. Second, the pattern of slanted weft is striped in the direction of the width of the fabric. Lastly, the chopped pattern is a combination of lanjuran and slanted feed.

Lurik symbolizes the strength of an agrarian society. Therefore, simplicity is closely attached to lurik. Compared to other Indonesian weaving, making lurik is the simplest. This is because the fabric pattern only consists of lines. Although it seems simple, making lurik still requires skill and foresight in terms of combining colors and line arrangements to produce beautiful lurik fabrics. For those who are interested in beautifying the house with a striated touch, you can apply the fabric as a window curtain in the living room.

Endek
In addition to kawung and lurik batik, you can also decorate the interior of the house with endek touch. This fabric is a type of ikat from the Island of the Gods (Bali). However, keep in mind, you must be careful in choosing a motif. The reason is, some endek motifs contain sacred elements so they should not be worn carelessly. For example, patra and encak food are only worn during religious ceremonies. Meanwhile, for use in everyday life, including as decoration, you can choose endek with natural nuances shades, such as flora, fauna, and puppet characters. Endek himself appeared during the reign of King Dalem Waturenggong in Gelgel Klungkung, Bali. Then, the cloth spread to various villages in Bali, like Sulang Village, Tenganan Village, and Tanglad Village. Besides being full of meaning, the endek pattern looks so interesting. For home decorating needs, you can make endek as a living room wall ornament.

So, which fabric will you choose to beautify your home later?

–sh