If you want to see the process of batik making with classic motif of Yogyakarta Palace, we suggest you to visit Giriloyo Village, Imogiri District, about 1 kilometer north of King of Mataram cemetery. There, you will find about 20 batik crafters who most of them are old people.


Mrs. Harti (58 years old), the coordinator of Bima Sakti batik crafters at Giriloyo, says, “The classic motifs which is still maintained are namely Sidoasih, Sidomulyo, Sidomukti, Sidoluhur, Truntum Mangkoro, Sri Kuncoro, Wahyu Tumurun and other more.”


The commitment to maintain the classic motifs was heard by Palace amidst. Mrs. Harti even got trust to make batik clothes for palace custom ceremony, that is, the enthronement of KGPH Mangkubumi as Sri Sultan HB X and also for great marital for Sri Sultan HB X’s younger sisters and brothers.

Highness clothes done by Mrs. Harti are clothes of Kampuh, long 5 meters, and wide 4 meters. It needs 3 months to complete one new cloth. Since 1988 to 1992, Yogyakarta palace had ordered 18 clothes of Kampuh with Semen Gunung motif. At that time, the cost to make one cloth was RP 2 millions. After 1992, Mrs. Harti perforce to refuse palace’s request, because there was no crafter who helped her to do batik making process. Meanwhile, Mrs. Harti felt that her eyes were not as fine as it was.

There is one unforgettable memory for her. At that time, one week after Sri Sultan HB IX passed away, GBPH Prabukusumo – one of Sri Sultan HB IX sons, came to see her. He was bringing cloth of Kampuh, which had torn. The cloth made in Sri Sultan HB VII day was the used-cloth for cover of Sri Sultan HB IX coffins. He asked to make pattern by using papers, to imitate cloth of kampuh tua with semen gunung motif. With her husband, Albani, retired of Car Brigade of Kelapa Dua, Mrs. Harti made sketch with pencil on the paper that was put on the torn cloth.

Without any bad intention, the couples drew the pattern and stepped the cloth. They stepped the cloth, because, if they didn’t step the cloth they couldn’t reach the corner of 4 long-meters cloth. Before finishing the pattern making – 3 days after working – Mr. Albani and Mrs. Harti were unconscious without any reason, whereas the two people were in health condition. All people in the village were sensational. Mrs. Harti’s grandmother prayed while reading words to get sorry because the two people had stepped the cloth couldn’t reach the cloth corner. Then, the two people were conscious. GBPH Prabukusumo asked to Mrs. Harti to keep the cloth of Kampuh with Semen Gunung motif well. And he warned her to not permit everybody, included Palace amidst to lend the pattern.