Batik Shop in Denpasar

Batik Popiler 2 shop Photo. The shop is located in Denpasar, it is on the  road heading to the Barong dance in Batubulan , and Ubud .

Learning about Batik by Doing Batik

The management and staff experience great joy and satisfaction to see children and adults, Indonesians and non-Indonesians, doing batik in the premises of “Batik Popiler II. Primary school children totally immersed for hours in applying the wax on the linen and then jubilant they look at their work after the dying has been completed; visitors from Japan, America, Holland, etc even spent a few days until they have mastered the entire process of doing batik. The most rewarding experience for Batik Popiler II is the presence of the Bali Art School students spending several days practicing the art and process of doing batik.

Several experienced batik artists from Java are permanent residents of Batik Popiler II and they guide local and oversea batik students. They and a group of Balinese trained employees are in a special place at the entrance of the shop, and provide knowledge and guidance to the batik students as well as firsthand demonstration to visitors who show interest in the batik process. The benefits of hands-on learning about batik by doing batik is, in the first place,  a meaningful experience because the practitioner has chosen on her/his own initiative to do so; and, secondly, the interaction with experienced masters in the art of batik as well as the exuberant batik environment that characterizes this place strengthen the practitioner’s appreciation for and perseverance in the art of batik.

Batik Popiler II opens its doors wide open to those who are interested in learning about batik by doing batik. Experience has shown to management and employees that those who have learned about batik in the Batik Popiler II premises have completed their practices with joy, enthusiasm and greater appreciation for this noble art that is so embedded in the culture of Indonesia. Learning about batik by doing batik requires humility, patience and perseverance. Humility because of the great works of batik art that others have created and we attempt to emulate; patience because only with willingness, diligence and dedication one can master this art; and perseverance because only with a steady holding on doing batik one will at the end appreciate the results; the greatest lesson to be learned about doing batik is that there is not short cut to it!

By Anibal Luis Oprandi

Batik and Batik

It is often the case that an oversea visitor in Indonesia, unaware of the difference between a genuine batik and an imitation batik, feels cheated when she\he learns the significant difference of prices between the batik purchased in a credited store and the one offered by a street vendor. The issue of imitation of a genuine handicraft is not only a dishonor to a creative and laborious work of art but it can also have negative effects on the noble image of a fine batik, the morale of artists, and the level of production by manufactures who can no longer maintain it due to the drop in the demand of fine batik.

Batik Popiler II Sarong made in Bali

Nepal is facing a serious problem with the imitation of the pashmina made by neighboring countries. The traditional genuine pashmina of Nepal is a fabric made with the under hair of the Himalayan goats, while the imitation pashmina is made with synthetic materials. It is difficult for an inexperienced person to see the difference and of course the price of an imitation pashmina is much lower.  As a consequence of this, the market has been flooded by imitation pashmina and the genuine pashmina sale dropped drastically. Nepal is promoting now the “Chyangra Pahmina” register trademark, which is a guaranty of genuineness; the oversee inexperienced visitors can now be sure that they are purchasing a real pashmina.   

Indonesia could follow the Nepal example by informing its visitors of the difference between genuine and imitation batiks. This would necessitate the practice of register trademark so that visitors can be sure that they are buying a genuine batik.  Batik Popiler II has a long tradition of commitment to genuine top quality batiks. The quality of batiks coming from outside Bali and its own production are guaranteed, furthermore, many batik items like, for example, the shawls and scarves are unique, that is to say, there are not and will not be two of the same.  

Batik Popiler II Sarong

by Anibal Luis Oprandi

About Batik Popiler II

Batik Popiler II is Bali’s foremost producer and retailer of handmade batik products. Over almost half a century, we have built an international reputation built on exemplary quality, creativity and reverence for this centuries old art form.

Batik Popiler II was founded way back in 1962 by Bapak (Mr) Wayan Matra and Ibu (Mrs) Made Tanjung. In the fifties, Ibu Tanjung was earning her living trading spices. Her work brought her into regular contact with farmers in remote parts of Bali who would always ask her for batik from the neighboring island of Java. Ibu Tanjung would make regular visits there, handpicking the finest examples including exquisite antique pieces, which were much more readily available at the time. Business went well and she opened a batik shop in Bali’s capital Denpasar – the very first of its kind on the island.

By 1976, the business had expanded considerably and much larger premises were found in Tohpati, just east of Denpasar. Ibu Tanjung’s daughter Putu Arnany took the reins of the business in 1983 adding bold contemporary designs and expanding into batik painting and different kinds of product like WHAT. Today, Batik Popiler II continues to set the standard for superior quality batik, with an equal focus on tradition and design innovation.

Not only can clients purchase beautiful batiks at the Batik Popiler HQ, they can also view many of the rare antique textiles Ibu Tanjung and her daughter have collected over the years and even gain an insight into the complex process of making these beautiful textiles by hand.