KLEWER MARKET - The Legendary Batik Market , Solo , Central Java - Indonesia
As people said, during the colonial era Klewer Market was a train station. People also used this place to sell merchandises to the train passengers; therefore, it was called Slompretan Market. The word slompretan comes from slompret (means trumpet) because the departing train’s sound is almost similar to the sound of the trumpet blown. Slompretan Market was also thronged by merchants who sell their textile products such as batik. These merchants sold their batik by carrying them on their back/shoulders and the batik looked dangling (klewer). Later, this market is well-known as Klewer Market - dangling market.
In 1970s, this market was renovated into a huge two stories permanent building. This market accommodates two thousand kiosks and the buyers would feel more comfortable to shop because of the wide stairs giving more open space.
The Cheap Textile and Batik Wholesale Center
Walking along its wide aisles, from one block to another block, various kinds of batik clothes as if persuade you to buy them. From kebaya (Javanese traditional woman cloth), fabrics, formal clothes, to batik shirts, house dress, beautiful blouses and kids clothes. Not only Solo Batik, this market also provides batik collections from Banyumas, Pekalongan, Madura, Yogyakarta, etc. You will easily find both the stamped batik for thousands rupiah and written batik which is way cheaper than the one in boutiques/stores. Bargaining skill is the most important thing to get the best price. Most of the kiosks also sell wholesale for cheaper price instead of buying in retail.
Go to the second floor, you will find various kinds of textiles, from school uniform, shirt, jacket, ties, cotton fabric, and silk. The unique thing is, there are tailors in this market, ready to sew the fabric you bought into your dream cloth in less than a day.
Tired of shopping and walking around this textile market, you can go to either the front or the side of the market. Various kinds of food stalls are not only ready to be a rest place, but also the place to enjoy various kinds of traditional food. Nasi Pecel, Nasi Liwet, Tengkleng, Dawet, Gempol and many kinds of food and drinks are ready to relieve your thirst and hunger.
Tips for taking care of batik
To maintain and taking care the beauty of your batik, there are some tips for you:
1. Avoid washing your batik by washing-machine and detergent. Wash it with your hand, use either shampoo dissolved with water or body-soap.
2. Dry it under the shade without pressing it before. Avoid drying under the direct sun light. Let it dry naturally.
3. Foil your batik with another cloth before ironing. Avoid the direct heat from the iron.
4. Avoid spraying cloth fragrance, softener, or perfume directly on the batik.
