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"I'm Yuni Kristina and I was born in 1983 in Pekalongan, Central Java. As part of Pekalongan regency, Wonokerto is known as the 'World's City of Batik;' people here also create batik. Most homemakers in my town make batik, from small productions to large ones. There are stamped batiks and hand-painted batiks — all are available. Besides being known as Batik City, Pekalongan is also known as the 'Fisherman City.' Most of the men work as fishermen. My father also was a fisherman and my mother was a batik maker. As a fisherman, my father could be gone anywhere from a month to six months. It all depended on how much fish he could catch.
"I started working in this field when I was 16 years old. After school, I helped my mother in making batik. She taught me how to hold the canting tool, and how to draw on cotton or silk. I love making batik because it has so many motifs that can be explored. To make batik, one also needs patience and extraordinary skill.
"Even though now my life seems good and I can provide for my children, I used to work very hard when I was a teenager. When I graduated from senior high school, I had to work in two places. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., I worked for a phone seller and after that, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., I worked at a motorcycle counter in a shopping mall. I did that for six years because I needed to support my father, since he was very sick at that time.
"Now, I am married to my lovely husband, Pande Putu Riecky Surya, and together, we are blessed with a daughter and two sons. Our children are the best thing that ever happened to me. And they give us new spirit to work harder. My husband and I always give our best to give them a great education, so they can have a bright future. We hope that they will be humble people, and they can make a good impact on society.
"When I had just started my batik workshop, a lot of people underestimated my skill. Yet, by the time I could prove they were wrong, people started to recognize my designs. I have made a lot of batik scarves and shawls, but my best and most challenging one is the ‘Wine Garden' shawl. The reason is because it uses two methods to make it beautiful. First, I do batik on silk, and then I draw flowers so the product is really colorful. The silk and cotton in my scarves are usually ones that I have picked. Then I give them to my helpers — I have 20 helpers, six men and fourteen women. My husband and I coordinate everything. I'm really proud to be a batik maker because I am also preserving my heritage, especially now that batik is recognized as original to Indonesia.
"I joined you in 2006. It was my husband who brought our batik to you and, thankfully, you accepted us and even helped us a lot. You've taught me to be really careful in making sure of the quality of my scarves and shawls. You've also taught me to be creative, as you request new designs regularly. And we received a Novica microcredit at zero percent interest so I could expand my workshop. I've worked very hard and today, I own a house and two shops to sell my batik scarves. I even have a car and a motorcycle, and now I can support my children with the best education."
Original Artisan Story
"I learned the art of batik when I was very young, since my mother is a batik artist in Java. She has been making batik at home for 23 years, while waiting each day for my father – a fisherman – to come home from the sea. As you can imagine, batik is a part of my life. I started experimenting with the technique when I was 13 years old, with more textiles. Now I've learned to create different motifs and to work with other materials, such as silk. My mother still helps me a lot.
"My mother is my inspiration. She and I still design together, especially the floral and bird motifs that are typical in Pekalongan batik. My husband Rieckey also helps me a lot because he knows what people like abroad, and then I can focus on creating. I would like the batik of Bali to become well known around the world, since its beauty is outstanding."
Fair Trade Batik Silk Patterned Blue Shawl 'Java Starlight'
$79.99
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Belinda Beautifully made. 100% silk! Fantastic size and very versatile. Kept me cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. I received many compliments. Thank you Yuni Kristina.
Batik Silk Patterned Scarf 'Jade Princess'
$49.99
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Nina Simply elegant! The perfect gift. An addition to everything. Delicate silk with lovely colors. Good taste & touche. I heartily recommend.
Handmade Silk Batik Scarf from Indonesia 'Royal Java Blue'
$49.99
(19)
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Paige Thank you so much, Yuni, for this gorgeous piece of wearable art! The colors are stunning and the weight of the scarf is perfect for year-round wear. This piece is delicate, hangs beautifully, and finishes an outfit (casual or more formal). This is something I will keep forever.
Batik Silk Scarf from Indonesia 'Blue Jasmine'
$49.99
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David Picking up scarfs for a trip to Greece, Turkey and Israel this summer.This addition is lightweight and airy and packs to almost nothing.
Handmade Silk Batik Scarf 'Harmony'
$49.99
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Carol The quality of this scarf is truly beautiful..Very well made and very flattering.
Batik Silk Shawl with Kawung Motifs from Bali 'Java Sea'
$79.99
(22)
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Ian To be confidently well-dressed in company, drape your shoulders in this pretty elegant wrap.
Balinese Black Silk Hand Stamped Floral Batik Shawl 'Night in the Garden'
$64.99
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Liette I love it all. Love the size & the texture of the silk (some feel heavier & too silky for me) and I love the color. It is hard to get that kind of pattern & bright Colors
Handcrafted Batik Silk Patterned Shawl 'Floral Stars'
$59.99
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Mtaylor I just received this beautiful scarf in the mail and couldn't be happier, it's so beautiful and airy and the colors in this scarf will go with so many things, I just love it!
Blue Batik Silk Patterned Shawl 'Royal Art'
$79.99
(6)
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Ardyth These colors are wonderfully complimentary! I love the soft feel of the fabric.
Blue Batik Silk Shawl 'Sapphire Mums'
$79.99
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Ian Wrap up in a light shawl to protect yourself against too much sun, wind or a cool evening. Versatility is a watchword for shawl use. You can even use it to shade your baby from the world.
The shelves are empty for now.Every piece Yuni Kristina makes is one of a kind, and they've all found homes. Follow to be first to see the next collection. Follow Yuni Kristina.
