Indonesia Regularly Exports Batik to France, a Global Fashion Center

Indonesian batik has a world-renowned reputation. This reputation has been even stronger since 2009, when UNESCO designated batik as an *Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity*.

UNESCO recognizes batik's significant role in Indonesian society. It's not just everyday clothing but also worn during important ceremonies and rituals.

"Babies are swaddled in batik cloth adorned with symbols to bring good fortune to the child, and the deceased are shrouded in burial batik. Batik is commonly used in business and academic settings, and worn at weddings, pregnancy celebrations, and artistic performances," explains UNESCO on its official website.

UNESCO also considers batik a cultural work that records the history of interaction between Nusantara society and other nations.

"The diversity of batik patterns reflects various influences, ranging from Arabic calligraphy, European floral arrangements, Chinese phoenix birds, Indian or Persian peacocks, to Japanese cherry blossoms," UNESCO states.

With this global reputation, Indonesian batik is highly sought after in foreign markets. Even France, whose capital is known as the world's fashion center, routinely buys Indonesian batik every year.

According to data from the Ministry of Industry's Center for Crafts and Batik (BBKB), in 2010 Indonesia exported 266 tons of batik to France, valued at approximately US$6.53 million.

However, in subsequent years, batik exports to France have declined, even drastically since the pandemic hit, as shown in the graph.

According to BBKB data from the Ministry of Industry, in 2021 Indonesia exported the most batik to the United States, approximately 1,211 tons valued at US$24.7 million.