Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Expo 2022 was enlivened by the Malang Batik Festival. This time, the heads of regional apparatuses accompanied by their spouses showcased batik fashion. The batik fabrics used were products of Malang City's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which were then designed by Malang City designers.
"I think this is in line with what the president has been saying, that we should be proud of domestic products. The Dekranasda tagline's philosophy is to explore, grow, and preserve. It turns out that in any model, Malangan batik is extraordinary," said Malang Mayor Drs. H. Sutiaji, Wednesday (30/3/2022).
Sutiaji also revealed that activities like this have started to be held because currently the pandemic conditions have begun to be conducive. Where the first vaccine has reached 124 percent and the second is almost 100 percent. "That's why this has to move, if it doesn't move, we will die. Moreover, the target from the province, the economic growth of Malang City is more than five, almost. From now on we have to open things like that," he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Cooperatives, Industry and Trade Service (Diskopindag) of Malang City, Muhamad Sailendra, ST., MM, said that the Malang Batik Festival was a collaboration between Diskopindag and Dekranasda of Malang City.
"The aim and objective is to popularize Malangan batik textiles into innovative and creative fashion products as a form of self-actualization by collaborating with regional apparatus heads, fashion designers, and batik artisans in Malang City to continue to create," he added.
Sailendra added, this event is also a presentation space for Malang City's talents in the fashion sector to be competitive and competent. At the same time, to support the government's program that targets Indonesia to become the world's fashion mecca by 2025.
The batik motifs used certainly depict the characteristics of Malang City, such as masks, monuments, and soybeans which are the main ingredient of tempeh. Likewise, the design is also full of the philosophy of the characteristics and history of Malang City.
The judges for this fashion show competition are Agoeng Soedir (Color Modelling School), Nurul Hidayati (fashion designer and lecturer in Fashion Design at UM), and Miss Indonesia East Java 2022, Adinda Cresheilla.
All finalists strutted confidently in beautiful costumes. The first winner was the General Section, the second winner was the National Unity and Politics Agency, and the third winner was the Regional Secretary of Malang City. Next, the first hopeful winner was Diskopindag, the second hopeful winner was the Health Service, and the third hopeful winner was the Regional Development Planning Agency. (ari/ram)
