News Release

AYANA STAFF JOIN NATION-WIDE CELEBRATION OF BATIK FOLLOWING UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION

Hotels in Bali joined nation-wide celebrations across Indonesia today, following the United Nations’ decision to recognize Indonesian batik as one of the world’s most important cultural traditions.

At AYANA Resort and Spa Bali, staff supported the appeal from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for all citizens to wear batik to commemorate the news that it would be added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

AYANA’s Sales and Marketing Director Haryadi Satriono said almost all of the 950 employees donned their finest batik. A large number gathered for a photo in the hotel’s main walkway.

“Our uniforms already feature a signature print, but we encouraged our staff to wear their own batik garments to celebrate this occasion,” said Haryadi. “It’s not every day that a centuries-old tradition is recognized by the United Nations, so it is something we wanted the world to know about!”

AYANA’s signature print, designed by renowned fashion designer Ghea Panggabean to mark the resort’s rebranding on April 1 this year, is featured on buckles, sashes, sarongs and shirts, and was inspired by an ancient weaving technique from the village of Tenganan.

The resort also held a batik-making demonstration by YPBB Foundation, whose mission it is to increase domestic demand for hand-made textiles, to save this ancient tradition from extinction. Hotel guests were able to purchase rare pieces of the YPBB Foundation’s creations, to support the Foundation’s work in Bali.

Indonesians are very proud of their batik heritage, which is seen everywhere from village markets to upscale boutiques and galleries, and is worn by everyone from street traders to high-profile politicians and celebrities.

It can take months to produce a single batik garment by hand, using the traditional process of applying wax-resistant dyes to create intricate patterns on textiles.

The Indonesian government has been lobbying for several years for the United Nations to recognize Indonesian batik’s cultural heritage.