BANTUL (ISL News) – PT Pelindo Marine Service (Pelindo Marine) strengthens the capacity of Batik Kriya Punden artisans from the former Dolly red-light district, Surabaya, through training and mentoring with modern batik artist, Bayu Aria Widhi Kristanto, at Hotwax Studio, Bantul, Yogyakarta Special Region, on September 11-13, 2026. This program is aimed at strengthening basic batik technique skills, the use of natural dyes, the development of design innovations, and technology-based marketing strategies to expand business opportunities and increase the competitiveness of batik products amidst the ever-evolving market dynamics.
Director of Finance, HR, and Risk Management of PT Pelindo Marine Service, Lia Indi Agustiana, said that the activity was a follow-up to the success of the "Surabaya Maritime Batik" MSME Priority TJSL Program, a collaboration between Pelindo Marine and the Punden Batik Kriya artisans in the former Dolly red-light district of Surabaya, who won an award at the Pelindo TJSL Award. "The success of this program proves that the Punden Batik Kriya artisans have great potential to develop. Therefore, we continue to present follow-up programs to strengthen their independence, increase competitiveness, and encourage the sustainability of their businesses," explained Lia.
Meanwhile, Bayu Aria Widhi Kristanto, a modern batik artist and founder of Hotwax Studio, believes that the Punden Batik Kriya artisans have great potential for development. Through this workshop, participants will be equipped with strengthening batik techniques, the use of natural dyes, design development, and technology-based marketing strategies. "The Punden Batik Kriya artisans already have a good foundation. We want to enrich their insights so they can combine creativity, cultural values, and technology so that the batik they produce will be more competitive in the Industry 5.0 era," said Bayu.
For the participants, the learning experience in Yogyakarta also provided a valuable opportunity to gain a closer look at the rapidly growing batik industry. Mastukah, one of the Batik Kriya Punden artisans, admitted to gaining a wealth of new inspiration that she will implement upon her return to Surabaya. "I have a wealth of new references for design and marketing development. I've learned a lot of input and observation methods that I want to put into practice when I return to Surabaya. I hope that Batik Kriya Punden will become more widely known and even penetrate the international market," Mastukah said.
Mulyadi Gunawan (Pengky), the Operational Service Operator for the Putat Jaya Batik Creative House in Dolly, shared a similar sentiment. He said that interacting with artists and batik industry players in Yogyakarta opened up new insights into the opportunities for batik development, both technically and marketing-wise. "This activity has opened my eyes to the vast opportunities for batik development. We will share the knowledge and experience gained with other artisans so we can grow together," Pengky said.
Pelindo Marine is committed to continuing the development of its fostered MSEs through the CSR (Corporate Social and Environmental Management) Program, which focuses on capacity building, innovation, independence, and business sustainability. This approach is expected to strengthen businesses' ability to create value-added products while adapting to technological developments and enabling them to compete in the Industry 5.0 era.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom PMS).
